Citation Nr: 21014727 Decision Date: 03/15/21 Archive Date: 03/15/21 DOCKET NO. 17-17 445 DATE: March 15, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a recurrent right shoulder disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a recurrent testicular disability, to include epididymitis, is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a recurrent gastrointestinal disability, to include irritable bowel syndrome, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from October 1997 to February 2015. The Veteran served in Iraq and was awarded the Combat Action Badge. Entitlement to service connection for a recurrent right shoulder disability, a recurrent testicular disability to include epididymitis, and a recurrent gastrointestinal disability to include irritable bowel syndrome is remanded. In its May 2020 Remand instructions, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) directed that the Veteran was to be afforded Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) examinations which addressed the claimed right shoulder, testicular, and gastrointestinal disabilities. An October 2020 notation in the record indicates that the Veteran declined right shoulder, male reproductive and stomach examinations. In its February 2021 Informal Hearing Presentation, the accredited representative asserted that “it also appears that the Regional Office ordered the wrong type of disability benefits questionnaire on at least one of the issues.” VA’s duty to assist includes, in appropriate cases, the duty to conduct a thorough and contemporaneous medical examination which is accurate and fully descriptive. McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006); Green v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 121, 124 (1991). When VA undertakes to obtain an evaluation, it must ensure that the evaluation is adequate. Barr v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 303, 312 (2007). The Board finds that further action should be undertaken to schedule the Veteran for examinations addressing the claimed recurrent right shoulder, testicular, and gastrointestinal disabilities. These matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Schedule the Veteran for a VA shoulder examination conducted by a medical doctor to assist in determining the current nature of any identified recurrent right shoulder disability and any relationship to active service. The examiner must review the record and should note that review in the report. A rationale for all opinions should be provided. The examiner should: (a) Identify all recurrent right shoulder disabilities found. If no right shoulder disability is diagnosed, the examiner should specifically state that fact. (b) Opine whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that any right shoulder disability had its onset during active service or is related to any incident of service, including the Veteran’s subjective history of inservice right shoulder pain. 2. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination conducted by a medical doctor to assist in determining the current nature of any identified recurrent testicular disability and any relationship to active service. The examiner must review the record and should note that review in the report. A rationale for all opinions should be provided. The examiner should: (a) Identify all recurrent testicular disabilities found. If no testicular disability is diagnosed, the examiner should specifically state that fact. (b) Opine whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that any testicular disability had its onset during active service or is related to any incident of service, including the documented inservice testicular complaints. 3. Schedule the Veteran for a VA gastrointestinal examination conducted by a medical doctor to assist in determining the current nature of any identified recurrent gastrointestinal disability and any relationship to active service. The examiner must review the record and should note that review in the report. A rationale for all opinions should be provided. The examiner should: (a) Identify all recurrent gastrointestinal disabilities found. If irritable bowel syndrome or other gastrointestinal disability is not found, the examiner should specifically state that fact. (b) Opine whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that any testicular disability had its onset during active service or is related to any incident of service, including the Veteran’s service in Southwest Asia. J. T. HUTCHESON Acting Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Roya Bahrami, 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.