Citation Nr: 21075879 Decision Date: 12/21/21 Archive Date: 12/21/21 DOCKET NO. 16-54 278 DATE: December 21, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a nerve disorder is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Air Force from April 1985 to April 1989. In September 2019 and July 2021, the Board remanded these claims back to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development and consideration. Regrettably, however, the Board must again remand these claims. These claims for service connection for a bilateral (so left and right) shoulder disability and nerve disorder are again remanded. Although the Board sincerely regrets the additional delay that will result from again remanding, rather than deciding, these claims, this additional development is necessary before adjudicating these claims on appeal. Specifically, there is conflicting medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran has current diagnoses of a left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability or nerve disorder, and this conflict in the evidence must be resolved or at least reconciled. Pursuant to the prior July 2021 Board remand, the Veteran was provided a VA examination to determine the etiology of his bilateral shoulder disability and nerve disorder, especially in terms of their purported relationship with his military service. But the Board finds that the examination provided is inadequate for adjudication purposes, and, in this circumstance, it is incumbent on the Board to correct this failing. See Barr v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 303 (2007). On August 2021 VA shoulder and nerve disability examinations, the examiner found no current shoulder or nerve disorder. Thus, there was no current shoulder or nerve disorder to, in turn, relate or attribute to the Veteran's military service. But the examiner failed to discuss diagnoses already noted in the Veteran's records or indicate why these diagnoses are invalid and, thus, should not be accepted. Notably, the report of a prior September 2019 VA examination and December 2019 addendum note diagnoses of bilateral shoulder strain and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and the Board pointed this out when remanding these claims in July 2021. Consequently, the Board must obtain clarification of these discrepancies in the evidence. Accordingly, these claims are REMANDED for the following action: Arrange for the Veteran to again be examined by an appropriate clinician for supplemental comment (another addendum opinion) concerning the nature and etiology of any left and right shoulder disability and nerve disorder, including peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity. All relevant evidence, including a complete copy of this remand and those prior, must be reviewed by the examiner for the pertinent history. All testing and evaluation indicated should be completed. The examiner is specifically asked to provide opinions on the following: (a) Identify (by diagnosis) each shoulder disability found or shown during the pendency of these claims, even if now resolved. (b) For each current left or right shoulder disability confirmed to exist or to have existed during the pendency of this appeal, even if now resolved, explicitly indicate whether the disability is a neurological manifestation of a service-connected disability. (c) Identify the likely etiology of any shoulder disability confirmed to exist or to have existed during the pendency of this appeal, even if now resolved. Specifically, is it at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) the disability is related to the Veteran's military service (meaning was incurred in or aggravated by his service). If the disability involves arthritis, also indicate whether it initially manifested within the first year after service to, in turn, warrant presuming it was incurred in service or whether it is otherwise related or attributable to his service, even if not initially diagnosed until after his service. (d) Does the Veteran have peripheral neuropathy (or other neurological impairment) of his right upper extremity? If confirmed he does: Is it at least as likely as not this right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy was caused OR is aggravated by a service-connected disability? KEITH W. ALLEN Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board P. Poindexter 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.