Citation Nr: 21025224 Decision Date: 04/27/21 Archive Date: 04/27/21 DOCKET NO. 18-50 194 DATE: April 27, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for Parkinson's disease is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a fungus conditions, to include as secondary to in-service exposure to high moisture conditions, is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for arthritis of the body, feet and ankles is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from October 1949 to January 1953. These matters come before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a July 2018 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In January 2019, the Veteran testified at a travel Board hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge (VLJ). A copy of the transcript has been associated with the Veteran’s electronic claims folder. All matters are remanded. In July 2020, the Board remanded the matters to obtain VA medical opinions regarding the etiologies of the claimed disabilities. In October 2020, a nurse practitioner provided 3 medical opinions. She opined that it was less likely than not that the Veteran’s claimed disabilities were related to service. She reasoned (in the case of all 3 claimed disabilities) that there was no diagnosis for the claimed disabilities and that the Veteran’s symptoms were subjective only. She did not address objective medical evidence showing clear diagnoses. She did not provide any further support for her conclusions. The Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) failed to comply with the Board’s remand in this regard. See Stegall v. West, 11 Vet. App. 268 (1998) (holding that a Board remand “confers on the veteran or other claimant, as a matter of law, the right to compliance with the remand orders”). Therefore, the Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain medical opinions regarding all 3 claimed disabilities that provides adequate rationale from a qualified medical professional. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Obtain medical opinions from appropriate medical professionals (other than the October 2020 VA examiner) regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s claimed Parkinson’s disease, fungus condition and arthritis. The electronic claims file, including a copy of this remand, must be made available to, and reviewed by, the specialist. The medical professional should provide a medical opinion that expressly addresses the following: (a) Whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran’s Parkinson’s disease was incurred in or is otherwise related to service. (b) Whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran’s fungus condition was incurred in or is otherwise related to service. (c) Whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran’s arthritis was incurred in or is otherwise related to service. The examiner’s attention is directed to the fact that the Veteran’s service treatment records are unavailable. The Board has found the Veteran to be a reliable historian regarding his reports of in-service incidents. The examiner’s opinion should elicit appropriate history from the Veteran before forming an opinion. The Board has returned the matter because the October 2020 VA examiner provided opinions not supported by the record and which lacked adequate supporting rationale. The examiner opined that the Veteran’s exam was normal but did not address favorable evidence of diagnosed disabilities. A complete rationale, with citation to appropriate medical principles, must be provided. Michael A. Pappas Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Baskerville, LaRita 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.