Citation Nr: 18142068
Decision Date: 10/12/18	Archive Date: 10/12/18

DOCKET NO. 14-44 256
DATE:	October 12, 2018
REMANDED
The issue of whether the reduction in the Veteran’s rating for nephropathy associated with type II diabetes mellitus from 60 percent to noncompensable effective January 1, 2013 was proper is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Army from May 1968 to June 1970, to include service in Vietnam.  
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an October 2012 rating decision from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).  The Veteran presented sworn testimony at a hearing before the undersigned in May 2018.  
The Veteran testified that he was treated for kidney stones in November 2017.  See Board hearing transcript, p. 7.  As these treatment records are not contained in the claims file, a remand is warranted to obtain these relevant treatment records.  After all relevant treatment records are obtained, a VA examination is warranted to determine the severity of the Veteran’s nephropathy.


The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Contact the Veteran and request that he identify any outstanding VA and private treatment records related to his nephropathy.  After obtaining the necessary authorization forms from the Veteran, obtain any pertinent records and associate them with claims file.  Any negative response should be in writing and associated with the claims file.
2. Notify the Veteran that he may submit lay statements from himself and from other individuals who have first-hand knowledge of the nature, extent and severity of his nephropathy.  The Veteran should be provided an appropriate amount of time to submit this lay evidence. 
3. After obtaining all outstanding records, schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his nephropathy.  The claims file must be made available to and reviewed by the examiner and all necessary tests should be conducted.  
 
L. M. BARNARD
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	C. Samuelson, Counsel