Citation Nr: 21065777 Decision Date: 10/27/21 Archive Date: 10/27/21 DOCKET NO. 19-20 633 DATE: October 27, 2021 REMANDED Service connection for a cervical spine disability is remanded. Service connection for a gastrointestinal condition is remanded. Service connection for hemorrhoids is remanded. Service connection for a left knee disability is remanded. Service connection for a left shoulder disability is remanded. Service connection for a right shoulder disability is remanded. Service connection for a skin condition, including tinea cruris, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from July 1964 to March 1989. This matter is before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a September 2018 rating decision. In October 2021, the Board received notification that the Veteran withdrew his request for a hearing before the Board. While the Board regrets further delay, remand is necessary to ensure proper development of the claims. Specifically, no VA examinations have been conducted for the claimed disabilities. The Veteran's representative raised the lack of examinations in the Veteran's appeal form. VA's statutory duty to assist the Veteran includes the duty to conduct a thorough examination so that the evaluation of the claimed disability will be a fully informed one. Green v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 121 (1991); Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400 (1997). Assistance by VA includes providing a medical examination or obtaining a medical opinion when such an examination or opinion is necessary to decide on a claim. 38 U.S.C. § 5103A(d); 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(c)(4); McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006). Therefore, a remand is necessary to obtain VA examinations for all claims on appeal. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Associate any pertinent VA or private medical records that are not already of record with the claims file. 2. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any cervical spine disability. The examiner must review the claims file and should note that review in the report. A complete history of onset and symptoms should be elicited from the Veteran. Any tests and studies deemed necessary should be conducted and all findings should be reported in detail. The examiner should opine as to whether it is at least as likely not (50 percent or greater probability) that any hemorrhoids disability had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service. 3. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any gastrointestinal condition, including IBS. The examiner must review the claims file and should note that review in the report. A complete history of onset and symptoms should be elicited from the Veteran. Any tests and studies deemed necessary should be conducted and all findings should be reported in detail. The examiner should opine as to whether it is at least as likely not (50 percent or greater probability) that any hemorrhoids disability had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service. The examiner should specifically address service medical records reflecting complaints in July 1976 and December 1986. 4. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any hemorrhoids disability. The examiner must review the claims file and should note that review in the report. A complete history of onset and symptoms should be elicited from the Veteran. Any tests and studies deemed necessary should be conducted and all findings should be reported in detail. The examiner should opine as to whether it is at least as likely not (50 percent or greater probability) that any hemorrhoids disability had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service. The examiner should specifically address service medical records reflecting complaints in January 1979 and November 1988. 5. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any left knee disability. The examiner must review the claims file and should note that review in the report. A complete history of onset and symptoms should be elicited from the Veteran. Any tests and studies deemed necessary should be conducted and all findings should be reported in detail. The examiner should opine as to whether it is at least as likely not (50 percent or greater probability) that any hemorrhoids disability had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service. The examiner should specifically address service medical records reflecting complaints in 1978. 6. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any right and/or left shoulder disability. The examiner must review the claims file and should note that review in the report. A complete history of onset and symptoms should be elicited from the Veteran. Any tests and studies deemed necessary should be conducted and all findings should be reported in detail. The examiner should opine as to whether it is at least as likely not (50 percent or greater probability) that any hemorrhoids disability had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service. The examiner should specifically address service medical records reflecting complaints in March 1978, May 1978, June 1979, June 1981, and July 1986. (Continued on the next page) 7. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any skin condition, including tinea cruris. The examiner must review the claims file and should note that review in the report. A complete history of onset and symptoms should be elicited from the Veteran. Any tests and studies deemed necessary should be conducted and all findings should be reported in detail. The examiner should opine as to whether it is at least as likely not (50 percent or greater probability) that any hemorrhoids disability had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service. The examiner should specifically address service medical records reflecting complaints in September 1980. JOHN Z. JONES Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board H. Ahmad The Board's decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.