Citation Nr: 18141595
Decision Date: 10/11/18	Archive Date: 10/10/18

DOCKET NO. 14-41 399A
DATE:	October 11, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served active duty in the United States Marine Corps from March 1976 to November 1977. 
A rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus is remanded.
The Veteran contends that his bilateral pes planus is such that a higher rating is warranted.
The Veteran’s last VA examination was in November 2015.  When available evidence is too old for an adequate evaluation of the Veteran’s current condition, VA’s duty to assist includes providing a new examination.  Weggenmann v. Brown, 5 Vet. App. 281 (1993).  The Board finds that the November 2015 examination is somewhat remote, and there is insufficient medical evidence on file from which the Board can accurately determine the current severity of the Veteran’s bilateral pes planus.  Moreover, the Veteran has raised the contention that his symptoms were incorrectly attributed to a non-service-connected disability.  As such, an additional examination is warranted to assess the current severity of the Veteran’s service-connected bilateral pes planus.  Therefore, a remand is necessary.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
Schedule the Veteran with an appropriate examiner to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral pes planus.  The claims folder must be made available to and be reviewed by the examiner.  All tests deemed necessary should be conducted and the results reported in detail.  The examination should be conducted in accordance with the current disability benefits questionnaire.  If possible, the examiner is asked to determine the extent Veteran’s service-connected bilateral pes planus contributes to pain and functional loss.
 
JENNIFER HWA
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	C. Ford, Associate Counsel