Citation Nr: 18140992 Decision Date: 10/09/18 Archive Date: 10/09/18 DOCKET NO. 13-13 443 DATE: October 9, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for pleural plaques (claimed as asbestosis) is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from January 1955 to September 1958, with periods of reserve service thereafter. In the October 2017 remand, the Board acknowledged that the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) was raised in correspondence received in February 2013 and March 2017. The Board noted that this issue has not been adjudicated by the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) and referred the claim to the AOJ for appropriate action. 38 C.F.R. § 19.9 (b) (2016). The Board continues to refer the TDIU claim to the AOJ for appropriate action. Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for pleural plaques (claimed as asbestosis) is remanded. In a brief in September 2018 the Veteran’s representative contended that the Veteran’s October 2016 VA examination Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) for respiratory conditions is inadequate as the examiner did not provide findings pertaining to Diffusion Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Monoxide by the Single Breath Method (DLCO (SB)), nor did the examiner provide a rationale for his determination as to which pulmonary function test (PFT) reading most appropriately reflected the Veteran’s disability level. Notably, the examiner in a December 2016 addendum also opined that the Veteran’s nonservice-connected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the condition predominantly responsible for limitation in pulmonary function without an explanation for the opinion. Thus, the Veteran should be afforded a new VA examination that provides all findings necessary to evaluate his service-connected pleural plaques under the rating criteria along with a rationale for all conclusions reached. Lastly, in the October 2017 remand the Board instructed that the Veteran be asked to submit written authorization for VA to obtain outstanding private treatment records and for the RO to obtain outstanding treatment records from the VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Mather, California. It is unclear whether all outstanding records from the VAMC were obtained. Further, although the Veteran did not respond to VA’s February 2018 letter requesting that he submit written authorization for VA to obtain outstanding private treatment records, as the issue needs to be remanded for the reasons discussed above, the Veteran should be given one more opportunity to submit authorization for VA to obtain any outstanding records. It also should be ensured that all outstanding VA treatment records are obtained, including from the VAMC in Mather, California. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: 1. Contact the Veteran and ask him to identify all providers of treatment he has received for the claim on appeal and to provide authorization for VA to obtain records of any such private treatment. After securing any necessary release, take appropriate action to obtain the identified records. Obtain all outstanding VA treatment records, including from the VAMC in Mather, California. 2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of his service-connected pleural plaques (claimed as asbestosis). The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms necessary for evaluating the Veteran’s disability under the rating criteria. In evaluating the Veteran’s service-connected pleural plaques the examiner is specifically asked to do the following: a.) Provide the results of all applicable PFTs to include DLCO (SB), FEV-1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in one second), FEV-1/FVC (Forced Vital Capacity). b.) Opine which PFT most accurately reflects the Veteran’s disability level and provide a rationale for the conclusion reached.   c.) Address whether the limitation in pulmonary function may be attributed to the Veteran’s service-connected pleural plaques (claimed as asbestosis) or a nonservice-connected respiratory disorder to include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Provide a rationale for the opinion rendered. If it is not possible to differentiate pulmonary symptoms of a nonservice-connected respiratory disorder, to include COPD, from the Veteran’s service-connected pleural plaques (claimed as asbestosis) the examiner should so state. MICHAEL A. HERMAN Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD M. Mac, Counsel