Citation Nr: 18144771
Decision Date: 10/25/18	Archive Date: 10/25/18

DOCKET NO. 16-15 763
DATE:	October 25, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus with plantar fascitis is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from July 1979 to July 1999.  
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an April 2015 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).
1. Entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus with plantar fascitis is remanded.
The Veteran contends that he is entitled to an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral pes planus.  Before a decision can be reached on this claim, a remand is necessary to ensure that there is a complete record upon which to decide the Veteran’s claim and to afford the Veteran every possible consideration.  See 38 U.S.C. § 5103A (2012); 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(2018).
As an initial matter, the Board notes that the Veteran testified at his March 2018 Board hearing that his service-connected bilateral pes planus has worsened in the form of constant pain rated as an 8-10 out of 10 on a pain scale.  Additionally, the Veteran reported needing physical therapy for his foot pain and shots in his feet three times a year.  As there is an indication that his bilateral pes planus has worsened since his last VA examination in April 2015, a remand is necessary.  See, e.g., Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400, 402-03 (1997); VAOPGCPREC 11-95 (1995).
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain any additional VA or private treatment records identified by the Veteran pertaining to the claim on appeal.
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2. After any additional records are associated with the claims file, afford the Veteran a VA examination with an appropriate medical examiner to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected bilateral pes planus.  The examiner should also address the functional impact the Veteran’s bilateral pes planus has on his ability to maintain employment.  The claims folder, including a copy of this remand, must be made available to, and reviewed by, the examiner.  All tests and studies deemed necessary by the examiner should be performed, and the VA examination report should comply with all appropriate protocols for rating bilateral pes planus.
 
S. HENEKS
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	N. Kamal, Associate Counsel