Citation Nr: 18141813
Decision Date: 10/11/18	Archive Date: 10/11/18

DOCKET NO. 16-34 980
DATE:	October 11, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals from left foot surgery is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had active duty from November 1989 to May 2013. 
The Board observes that a November 2013 rating decision granted service connection for residuals from left foot surgery and assigned an initial noncompensable (zero percent) rating effective June 1, 2013. More recently, in March 2018, the Regional Office (RO) increased the disability rating for the disability from 0 to 10 percent retroactive to the June 1, 2013, effective date.
While the Board sincerely regrets the additional delay, this claim must be remanded for another VA examination.
The last relevant VA examination of r record regarding the Veteran’s left foot disorder was conducted in February 2016. On his July 2016 substantive appeal, the Veteran indicated that the severity of his left foot disorder had increased in severity. As such, the RO scheduled the Veteran for a VA examination February 2018. Shortly, thereafter, the Veteran reported that he would be out of the country until September 2018. Since good cause has been shown that the Veteran was unable to report to the scheduled VA examination, the claim is remanded for a new VA examination.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Make arrangements to obtain the Veteran’s updated VA medical treatment records.
2. Thereafter, schedule the appropriate VA examination to assess the current level of severity of his service-connected left foot disorder. The Veteran’s claims file, including a copy of this REMAND, must be made available to and reviewed by the examiner in conjunction with the examination. The examiner must note in the examination report that the evidence in the claims file has been reviewed. All indicated tests should be completed and all relevant clinical findings reported. The appropriate Disability Benefits Questionnaire should be completed.
In the examination report, the examiner must include all of the following for the left foot disorder:
A. Active range of motion testing results.
B. Passive range of motion testing results.
C. Weightbearing range of motion testing results.
D. Non-weightbearing range of motion testing results.
If the examiner is unable to conduct one or more of the above tests or finds that it is unnecessary, the examiner must provide an explanation. In any event, the type of test performed (i.e. active or passive, weightbearing or nonweightbearing), must be specified.
The examiner must elicit as much information as possible from the Veteran regarding the severity, frequency, and duration of flare-ups, their effect on functioning, and precipitating and alleviating factors.
If the examination is not performed during a flare-up, the examiner must provide an estimate of additional loss of range of motion during a flare-up. If the examiner is unable to provide an estimate of additional loss of motion during a flare-up, the examiner must provide a specific explanation as to why the available information, including the Veteran’s own statements, is not sufficient to make such an estimate.
The examiner must provide a comprehensive report including complete rationales for all opinions and conclusions reached.
The Veteran is hereby advised that failure to report for this medical examination, without good cause, may have adverse consequences on this pending claim as it would require deciding it based on the existing evidence of record. 38 C.F.R. § 3.655.

 
DELYVONNE M. WHITEHEAD
Acting Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	N. Sangster, Counsel