Citation Nr: 18141838
Decision Date: 10/11/18	Archive Date: 10/11/18

DOCKET NO. 16-30 463
DATE:	October 11, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for a right hip disability is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served in the United States Marin Corp from July 2011 to April 2013.
1. Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for a right hip disability is remanded.
Evidence from a May 2018 clinical note indicates that since his last VA examination the Veteran’s disability has worsened.  The examination includes the Veteran’s remark that that he was doing well until recently when he did increasing activities for the fire academy, and the clinician’s notation finding that the Veteran is having significant symptoms. The Veteran’s last VA examination, to determine the status of his right hip disability, was in July 2013.  As a result, and given the time that has transpired since his last examination, the Board finds that a new examination is warranted.  See Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400, 403 (1997). 
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Contact the Veteran and request that he identify the names, addresses, and approximate dates of treatment for all VA and non-VA health care providers who have treated him for his hip disability. The Veteran should be requested to sign any necessary authorization for release of medical records to VA, and appropriate steps should be made to obtain any identified records. 
Regardless of the Veteran’s response, VA treatment records should be collected from the Fayetteville, Arkansas VA Medical Center (VAMC) and all associated outpatient center and clinics.  In particular, the AOJ should retrieve VA treatment records from February 2013 to November 2013 and from August 2018 to present should be collected.  Any archived records should be retrieved from storage.
If any requested records are not available, or the search for any such records otherwise yields negative results, that fact must clearly be documented in the claims file. If the records are unavailable, notify the Veteran in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 3.159. 
2. After the above development is accomplished, schedule the Veteran for appropriate VA examination for his right hip disability.  The claims folder (including a copy of this remand) must be provided to and reviewed by the examiner(s) as part of the examination.  A notation to the effect that this review has taken place should be made in the evaluation report.  All tests, studies, and evaluations should be performed as deemed necessary by the examiner(s), and the results of any testing must be included in the examination report.  
The examiner should determine the nature and severity of the Veteran’s right hip disability 
Any opinions provided should be accompanied with supporting rationale.
3. Ensure that the examination report complies with this remand and the questions presented in this request.  If the report is insufficient, it must be returned to the examiner for necessary corrective action, as appropriate.  
4. After completing the requested actions and any additional notification and/or development deemed warranted, readjudicate the issues on appeal. If the benefit sought on appeal is not granted, the Veteran and his representative must be furnished a supplemental statement of the case and afforded the appropriate time period for response.
 
Gayle Strommen
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	J. Acosta