Citation Nr: 21022501 Decision Date: 04/16/21 Archive Date: 04/16/21 DOCKET NO. 15-27 870 DATE: April 16, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for intermittent diarrhea is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active duty service from August 1989 to January 1997. This matter comes before the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) rating decision dated in July 2013. In a June 2019 decision, the Board denied entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for intermittent diarrhea. The Veteran appealed the decision to the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court). In October 2020, pursuant to a Joint Motion for Remand (JMR), the Court vacated the June 2019 decision to the extent that it denied entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for intermittent diarrhea and remanded the matter to the Board for action consistent with the JMR. 1. Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for intermittent diarrhea is remanded. The Veteran seeks entitlement to an initial rating greater than 10 percent for his intermittent diarrhea. At a September 2018 Board hearing, the Veteran testified that he had constant abdominal pain and would experience symptoms of diarrhea a few minutes after eating. The Veteran and his spouse testified that the Veteran’s intermittent diarrhea had an impact on his health, and as a result he had lost over thirty pounds and he had to take iron supplements and thiamin because he had low iron. The Board notes that the Veteran was last afforded a VA examination in May 2013, which was almost 8 years ago. Thus, the Board finds that a VA examination is warranted to determine the current severity of the Veteran’s intermittent diarrhea condition. See Caffrey v. Brown, 6 Vet. App. 377 (1994). The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to ascertain the current severity of the Veteran’s intermittent diarrhea. The AOJ should ensure that the examiner has access to the Veteran’s claims file, including a copy of this remand. Any diagnostic tests deemed necessary for an accurate assessment must be conducted. The examiner must record all pertinent medical complaints, symptoms, and clinical findings, in detail. The examiner should conduct a review of the Veteran’s treatment records to determine whether “substantial weight loss” or “minor weight loss” as defined in 38 C.F.R. § 4.112 is demonstrated during the appeal period. In addition, the examiner should conduct a review of the Veteran’s treatment records to determine the impact that the Veteran’s intermittent diarrhea has had on his health, including whether the Veteran developed anemia due to his condition. All necessary laboratory testing should be performed in this regard. The examiner should provide a complete rationale for all opinions expressed and conclusions reached. S. L. Kennedy Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board G. Johnson 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.