Citation Nr: 22044237 Decision Date: 08/03/22 Archive Date: 08/03/22 DOCKET NO. 20-01 333 DATE: August 3, 2022 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disorder, claimed as left shoulder pain, is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder, claimed as left knee pain and as secondary to claimed bilateral foot disorders, is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a right foot disorder, claimed as right foot pain, is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a left foot disorder, claimed as left foot pain and as secondary to the right foot disorder, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty, including from July 1984 to December 1984 and June 1985 to January 2005. This matter is on appeal from a September 2018 rating decision. The Board notes that although that rating decision treated the foot claims as new and material evidence claims, following a July 2017 rating decision, additional, pertinent service treatment records have since been associated with the claims file and the claims will be considered as new claims. In July 2021, the Veteran had a hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. 1. Entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disorder is remanded. 2. Entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder, also claimed as secondary to claimed foot disorders, is remanded. 3. Entitlement to service connection for a right foot disorder is remanded. 4. Entitlement to service connection for a left foot disorder, to include as secondary to the claimed right foot disorder, is remand. In May 2018, the Veteran underwent a VA examination for the left shoulder and a VA medical opinion was obtained in September 2018. That opinion, however, was inadequate in not correctly evaluating the medical evidence of record. A new VA medical opinion is necessary. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee and bilateral foot disorders because no VA examiner has opined whether the Veteran currently has the claimed disorders and whether they are etiologically related to service. As such, VA examinations should be obtained. During the July 2022 Board hearing, the Veteran identified relevant outstanding private treatment records, specifically podiatrist records. A remand is required to allow VA to obtain authorization and request these records. Evidence indicates that there may be outstanding relevant VA treatment records, as indicated by the September 2018 VA medical opinion referencing CAPRI records that are not associated with the claims file. Additionally, the Veteran's service treatment records have not been obtained. The record indicates that the RO was unable to obtain all the service treatment records, but is unclear as to whether they attempted to obtain them from the Veteran's Reserve service. As such, the RO should make another attempt to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records. Appropriate notice regarding any failure to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records should also be provided. The matters are REMANDED for the following actions: 1. Ask the Veteran to complete a VA Form 21-4142 for any pertinent private medical providers, to include his podiatrist. Make two requests for the authorized records from identified providers, unless it is clear after the first request that a second request would be futile. 2. Obtain the Veteran's complete service treatment records, to include documents pertaining to his Reserve service. Document all requests for information as well as all responses in the claims file. 3. Provide the Veteran appropriate notice regarding whether his service treatment records have been obtained and associated with the claims file. 4. Obtain the Veteran's VA treatment records. 5. After the above record development has been accomplished, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination for his claimed disabilities of (a) a left shoulder disorder, (b) a left knee disorder, (c) a right foot disorder, and (d) a left foot disorder. 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(s) below. The examiner is asked to provide a response to the following: Is (a) a left shoulder disorder, (b) a left knee disorder, (c) a right foot disorder, and/or (d) a left foot disorder at least as likely as not related to service, including claims that they began during service? In providing the requested opinion, consider the Veteran's description of his in-service injury(ies) and symptoms as well as his post-service symptoms. If there is any medical reason to accept or reject the proposition that the Veteran's reported injury(ies) and symptoms in service and thereafter represented the onset of his current disability(ies), this should be noted. Stated another way, do the Veteran's reports about his symptoms align with how the currently diagnosed disability(ies) is/are known to develop or are the Veteran's reports generally inconsistent with medical knowledge or implausible? Is the left knee disorder at least as likely as not proximately due/aggravated, i.e., worsened beyond its natural progression to claimed right and/or left foot disorders? Is the left foot disorder at least as likely as not proximately due/aggravated, i.e., worsened beyond its natural progression to claimed right foot disorder? A fully articulated medical rationale for EACH opinion expressed must be set forth in the medical report. (Continued on the next page) The VA medical opinion provider should discuss the particulars of this Veteran's medical history and relevant medical science as applicable to this case, which may reasonably explain the medical guidance in the study of this case. H.M. WALKER Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board A. Lindio 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.