Citation Nr: 21005701
Decision Date: 02/02/21	Archive Date: 02/02/21

DOCKET NO. 14-38 462A
DATE: February 2, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The issue on appeal was remanded in July 2018 and July 2020.

Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for a CVA is remanded.

Unfortunately, the Board finds that additional development must be conducted prior to adjudication of the Veteran’s claim. In April 2019, the Veteran was afforded a VA examination to determine the severity and manifestations of his service-connected CVA. The examiner noted that the Veteran has reported short term memory impairment with difficulty recalling names of acquaintances and getting dates mixed up and that he has reported difficulty with pronouncing certain words and occasionally with forming words or using the right words. 

The 2019 examiner noted that an April 2018 speech assessment indicated cognitive-communication impairment with deficits noted in visuospatial/executive tasks, attention, language, abstraction, and delayed recall. The examiner indicated, however, that these symptoms were likely due to complicated hospitalization in 2018, rather than the Veteran’s CVA. The examiner, however, did not address the Veteran’s reports that these symptoms have been occurring since 2007, many years prior to the 2018 hospitalization. The Board finds that a new VA examination should be afforded to address these inconsistent reports in the April 2019 examination and to describe any current cognitive-communication impairment.  

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

Schedule the Veteran for a current VA examination to determine the severity, manifestations, and effects of his service-connected residuals of his CVA. The claims file must be reviewed in conjunction with the examination.  All pertinent symptomatology and findings should be reported in detail.  

The examiner is asked to discuss the following: the Veteran’s own reports of sensory/motor deficits in his right hand; deficits in speech, memory or cognition; and the functional impact of the condition on his ability to work. 

The examiner is advised that the Veteran is competent to report his symptoms and history, and such reports must be acknowledged and considered in formulating any provided opinions. 

 

 

K. Parakkal

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	P.M. Johnson, Counsel

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.