Citation Nr: 22017663
Decision Date: 03/25/22	Archive Date: 03/25/22

DOCKET NO. 15-19 588
DATE: March 25, 2022

REMANDED

Service connection for arthritis is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from April 1974 to May 1975 in the U.S. Navy. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) from a February 2012 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Columbia, South Carolina.

This case was previously before the Board in March 2021, at which time the issue on appeal was remanded for further development. Although further delay is regrettable, the Board finds that remand is warranted for additional development.

The Veteran was afforded a VA examination in December 2021. The examiner found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and provided a negative opinion. However, while the examiner did find that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of osteoarthritis, the examiner did not provide an opinion as to whether the Veteran's osteoarthritis is related to service. Accordingly, remand is warranted to obtain a VA medical opinion.

 

The matter is REMANDED for the following action:

Obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate physician to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed arthritis disability, to include osteoarthritis. After complete review of the evidence of record, the physician is asked to opine as to whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's arthritis had its onset during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or illness. 

The physician should specifically discuss the December 1974 service treatment record showing complaints of aching all over and painful joints.

The physician is advised that the Veteran is competent to report symptoms, treatment, and injuries, and that his reports must be considered in formulating the requested opinion. The physician is not to improperly discount the Veteran's lay statements or mistakenly rely on an absence of medical evidence in the record to support his or her conclusions.

A complete rationale must be provided for all opinions offered. 

 

JOHN Z. JONES

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	T. Kernen, 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.