Citation Nr: 18145021
Decision Date: 10/26/18	Archive Date: 10/25/18

DOCKET NO. 15-17 334
DATE:	October 26, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for coronary artery disease is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Army from January 1964 to January 1966 and from April 1966 to April 1969.  
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an October 2014 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Buffalo, New York.
In June 2018, the Veteran appeared and testified at a videoconference Board hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge.  A transcript of the hearing is associated with the claims file.  
During his June 2018 Board hearing, the Veteran maintained that his cardiovascular symptomology had worsened since his last stress test, which was conducted in September 2015.  The Board notes that the January 2017 VA examination of record referenced the findings from this September 2015 stress test.  The Veteran also maintained that his cardiovascular symptomology had worsened since the January 2017 VA examination.  
The Board notes that 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.  Recent contentions made by the Veteran during his June 2018 Board hearing regarding his symptomatology indicate a worsening of symptomology when compared to the September 2015 stress test and January 2017 VA examination.  
Consequently, as there may have been changes in the Veteran’s symptomology, the Board finds a new examination is needed to fully and fairly evaluate the Veteran’s claim.  
Accordingly, the matter is REMANDED for the following action:
Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease.  The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms necessary for evaluating the Veteran’s disability under the rating criteria.  
 
H.M. WALKER
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Angeline DeChiara, Associate Counsel