Citation Nr: 21012201 Decision Date: 03/03/21 Archive Date: 03/03/21 DOCKET NO. 18-41 511 DATE: March 3, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetic neuropathy of the left upper extremity is remanded. Entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetic neuropathy of the right upper extremity is remanded. Entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetic neuropathy of the left lower extremity is remanded. Entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND These matters come before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) based on a February 2017 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran served active duty in the Army from January 1966 to January 1968. The Board notes that when the VA undertakes to provide a VA examination or obtain a VA opinion, it must ensure that the examination or opinion is adequate. Barr v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 303, 312 (2007). To be considered adequate, a medical examination report must contain not only clear conclusions and supporting data, but also a reasoned medical explanation connecting the two. See Nieves-Rodriguez v. Peake, 22 Vet. App. 295 (2008). In addition, a medical examiner is not free to simply ignore a veteran's lay statements recounting symptoms or events. Dalton v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 23 (2007). A statement by the Veteran notes several symptoms of pain that, while not noted in the examination, indicate potentially different assessments of the current level of pain the Veteran perceives and his physical mobility limitations due to his neuropathy. The Veteran also notes multiple instances of functional impacts, including the inability to do numerous tasks without assistance of his wife, that are not listed or assessed in the examination. Because the prior examination did not consider these statements, the opinion is inadequate. Remand for a new examination is necessary. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Afford the Veteran a VA examination by an examiner with sufficient expertise to fully assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral upper and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy. All pertinent evidence of record should be made available to and reviewed by the examiner. Any indicated studies should be performed. The examiner must address the functional impacts of the Veteran’s symptoms and ensure that he or she considers the Veteran’s statements to include any statements made at the examination as well as throughout the file (See VA Form 9, dated July 2018). The examiner must provide a complete rationale for all proffered opinions. If the examiner is unable to provide any required opinion, he or she should explain why. If the examiner cannot provide an opinion without resorting to mere speculation, he or she shall provide a complete explanation as to why this is so. If the inability to provide a more definitive opinion is the result of a need for additional information, the examiner should identify the additional information that is needed. T. REYNOLDS Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Rob Schwartz, Associate 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.