Citation Nr: 21029368 Decision Date: 05/13/21 Archive Date: 05/13/21 DOCKET NO. 18-01 263 DATE: May 13, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae request is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps from August 1980 to November 1980. This matter comes to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a May 2015 rating decision of the Regional Office (RO). A hearing was held before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in December 2019. A transcript of the hearing has been associated with the claims file. 1. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus In his February 2016 Notice of Disagreement and at the time of the December 2019 Board hearing, the Veteran explained that when he joined the Marines, he was given shoes with no support and running in those shoes on asphalt damaged his feet. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of service connection for pes planus because no VA examiner has opined whether the Veteran has a diagnosis of bilateral pes planus, and, if so, whether this condition was caused by running during training in service. Remand is warranted to obtain a VA examination. 2. Entitlement to service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae The Veteran explained at the time of the hearing and in his February 2016 Notice of Disagreement that prior to joining the military he did not have bumps on his face after shaving because he took time to warm his face with hot water and used good razors. He claims his pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) began because he was given one minute to shave daily with cheap razors while in the Marine Corps. Service treatment records from August 1980 reflect PFB was noted as part of the Veteran's recruit screening physical examination. Subsequent service treatment records reflect the Veteran was seen for PFB and ultimately administratively discharged because of this condition. An April 2015 VA examiner found the Veteran's symptoms were present after shaving and resolve when he does not shave for a while. This is consistent with PFB. Therefore, the Veteran's PFB, which existed prior to the military was not as likely as not aggravated beyond its normal progression. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of whether the Veteran's PFB, which was noted as a defect as part of a recruit screening physical examination in August 1980, at least as likely as not increased in severity during service, and, if so, if the increase in severity clearly and unmistakably is due to the natural progress of the disease. Therefore, remand is warranted for an addendum opinion. The matters are REMANDED for the following actions: 1. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination for his bilateral pes planus. The examiner must review the claims file. If a diagnosis cannot be provided but the Veteran's condition manifests in symptoms that cause functional impairment, then the examiner should consider them a "disability" for the purpose of providing the requested opinion below. The examiner is asked to provide a response to the following: Is the Veteran's pes planus (or any other foot disability) at least as likely as not related to service, including running on asphalt with shoes with no support while training? Provide a rationale to support the opinion. 2. Obtain an addendum opinion from a qualified clinician regarding the following: Did the Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae, which existed prior to service, clearly and unmistakable not increase in severity during service? If so, was the increase in severity clearly and unmistakably (undebatable) due to the natural progress of the disease? The clinician must consider all of the relevant evidence including the Veteran's statements, including: his Notice of Disagreement in which he explained from the age of 16 to 26 he never had bumps on his face after shaving because he took time to warm his face with hot water and used good razors. However, in the Marine Corps he was given one minute to shave daily with cheap razors. This happened every day and he had to go to sick bay. He tries to shave at least once a year, but the bumps still come back after the second day of shaving; and his hearing testimony, in which he explained he never had problems shaving prior to the military because usually before that he used to go to church every Sunday and had been able to shave. He would take a towel to soak, put his shaving cream on and soak and then shave. He would use Vaseline after shaving. 3. Upon completion of the above-directed development and any other development deemed necessary, the RO should readjudicate the Veteran's claims. J.W. FRANCIS Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board R. Vemulapalli, 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.