Citation Nr: 22014272 Decision Date: 03/12/22 Archive Date: 03/12/22 DOCKET NO. 15-08 940A DATE: March 12, 2022 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder injury, to include as due to service-connected disease or injury is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the U.S. Army from January 1995 to January 2000, with additional service in the Army Reserve. The Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge (VLJ) at a hearing in September 2018. A transcript of that hearing is of record. In January 2020, the Board remanded this issue to the RO for additional development. As explained in more detail below, additional development is necessary prior to adjudication. Entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder injury, to include as due to service-connected disease or injury The Veteran contends that she is entitled to service connection for a left shoulder disability. She contends that her left shoulder disability is caused or aggravated by her service-connected disabilities, or directly caused by service. In January 2020 correspondence, the Veteran noted that she had to stay in shape to endure the physical demands of service. While performing weight-lifting exercises in service, the Veteran stated that she "inevitably injured" her shoulders so badly that she was unable to lift her arms. She stated that she did not report the shoulder injuries because she would have been forced to do things that would cause more shoulder pain. The Veteran has attended two VA examinations for her shoulders. In September 2013, a VA examiner determined that the Veteran did not have a left shoulder disability. No nexus opinion was provided. In March 2020, a VA examiner determined that it was less likely than not that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated her left shoulder arthritis. To date, no VA examiner has provided an opinion on whether the Veteran's left shoulder arthritis is directly related to service including as the Veteran contended had been caused by weightlifting activities during active duty. Accordingly, a VA opinion is necessary prior to adjudication. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination for her left shoulder arthritis. The examiner must review the claims file. The examiner is asked to provide a response to the following: (a.) Is left shoulder arthritis at least as likely as not caused by service, including in-service weight-lifting? (b.) Is it at least as likely as not that the left shoulder arthritis (1) began during active service, (2) manifested within one year after discharge from service, or (3) was noted during service with continuity of the same symptomatology since service? In providing the requested opinions, consider the Veteran's description of her in-service injury and symptoms as well as her post-service symptoms. If there is any medical reason to accept or reject the proposition that the Veteran's reported injury and symptoms in service and thereafter represented the onset of her current disability, this should be noted. Do the Veteran's reports about her symptoms align with how the currently diagnosed disability is known to develop or are the Veteran's reports generally inconsistent with medical knowledge or implausible? Review of the entire claims file is required. The examiner must provide a complete rationale for all findings and opinions, and a discussion of the facts and medical principles involved would be of considerable assistance to the Board. J.W. FRANCIS Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board T. Fitzgerald, 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.