Citation Nr: 21040024
Decision Date: 07/02/21	Archive Date: 07/02/21

DOCKET NO. 15-36 302
DATE: July 2, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to financial assistance for the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment or for adaptive equipment only is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran had honorable active duty service from April 1966 through February 1967.

The appeal comes to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) from a February 2014 Rating Decision. The Veteran initially requested a hearing via videoconference, but withdrew the request in April 2020 and requested a decision based on the record.

On review, remand is required. The Veteran seeks financial assistance for the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment or for adaptive equipment only; he is service-connected for schizophrenia, fibromyalgia, and diabetes mellitus. 

The Veteran contends he is unable to ambulate without the use of his wheelchair and should be considered to have no meaningful use of his lower extremities. He further states his service connected disabilities and the current medications prescribed for his service connected disabilities are the sole cause of the need for this benefit. Lastly, he argues no examination nor medical opinion has been conducted to reconcile whether his disabilities and /or prescribed medication lead to his confinement to a wheelchair. See Appellate Brief. 

On review, the Board cannot make a decision on the issue at this point because the competent evidence of record is inadequate to address the question of etiology and extent of any bilateral lower extremity disability. As the Veteran has not been afforded a VA examination, remand is accordingly required for a VA examination.  

The matter is REMANDED for the following action: 

Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination of his bilateral lower extremities.  The examiner must review the claims file.

The examiner is requested to describe any functional impairment of the lower extremities; the examiner should provide an opinion as to whether any functional impairment is related to service-connected disability(ies) or medications taken therefor.

 

Evan M. Deichert

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	T. C. KING

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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.