Citation Nr: 21075675 Decision Date: 12/21/21 Archive Date: 12/21/21 DOCKET NO. 19-22 530 DATE: December 21, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder injury is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a right knee injury is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from November 1990 to March 1993, with some evidence of additional reserve service. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) from a decision by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran testified before the undersigned in a May 2021 Board hearing, a transcript of the hearing is of record. 1. Entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability is remanded. 2. Entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability is remanded. The Veteran contends he injured his right shoulder and right knee during a reserve training weekend during the physical training test. Service treatment records indicates that the Veteran was seen on November 16, 2014. The Veteran reported that he aggravated his right shoulder and right knee during exercises. X-rays taken that day, noted mild tricompartmental osteoarthritis of the right knee and minimal osteophyte formation at the right AC joint. The Veteran's claims file does not appear to contain his complete service personnel records for his period of service in the reserve. As they may contain information regarding the Veteran's dates of service and report of in-service injury, including a line of duty determination, a remand is required to obtain them. The Board notes that in May 2019, VA sent the Veteran a letter requesting general information regarding his reserve service in order to request a line of duty determination. It appears the Veteran failed to respond to the letter. The Veteran is reminded that the duty to assist is a two-way street. If the Veteran wishes help, he cannot passively wait for it in those circumstances where he may or should have information that is essential in obtaining the relevant evidence. Wood v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 190, 193 (1991). The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain the Veteran's complete service personnel records, to include all line of duty determinations and documents pertaining to his service in the reserve. Verify the specific beginning and ending dates of all periods of active duty for training and inactive duty training for reserve service and particularly any qualifying service in November 2014. If necessary, a request should be made to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). Document all requests for information as well as all responses in the claims file. 2. If qualifying service is confirmed in November 2014, then schedule the Veteran for an examination with an appropriate clinician regarding his right shoulder claim. The examiner must provide the following opinions: (a.) Identify all current right shoulder disabilities, to include pain that causes functional impairment. (b.) For each identified right shoulder disability, whether it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service in November 2014. The examiner must address: i. The November 2014 service treatment records that note he reported he aggravated his right shoulder in exercises the day before. ii. The Veteran's statement that he injured his shoulder while conducting a physical training test. (c.) A complete medical rationale must be provided for all opinions. 3. If qualifying service is confirmed in November 2014, then schedule the Veteran for an examination with an appropriate clinician regarding his right knee claim. The examiner must provide the following opinions: (a.) Identify all current right knee disabilities, to include pain that causes functional impairment. (b.) For each identified right knee disability, whether it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service in November 2014. The examiner must address: i. The November 2014 service treatment records that note he reported he aggravated his right knee in exercises the day before. ii. The Veteran's statement that he injured his knee while conducting a physical training test. (c.) A complete medical rationale must be provided for all opinions. S. L. Kennedy Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board Robert Batten 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.