Citation Nr: 18145099
Decision Date: 10/26/18	Archive Date: 10/26/18

DOCKET NO. 16-32 417
DATE:	October 26, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic sinusitis (previously rated as chronic allergic rhinitis) is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served in the United States Marine Corps from May 1997 to May 2001. 
Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic sinusitis (previously rated as chronic allergic rhinitis) is remanded.
While the Board sincerely regrets further delay, additional development is required before the Veteran’s claim may be adjudicated on the merits.
The Veteran was most recently provided with a VA examination in connection with his claim in July 2015.  On the Veteran’s July 2016 VA Form 9 Substantive Appeal to the Board, the Veteran indicated that his condition has deteriorated and that he was now experiencing “sinus headaches with more than 10 incapacitating episodes a year.”  The Veteran further indicated that he was experiencing increased allergic reactions that he did not previously have, sinus pain, purulent discharge and crusting inside his nasal cavity and passage.  See, July 2016 VA Form 9. 
Based on the Veteran’s statements regarding the worsening of his observable chronic sinusitis symptoms, VA is required to afford the Veteran with a contemporaneous VA examination to assess the current nature, extent, and severity of his service-connected chronic sinusitis as the Veteran’s most recent VA examination may no longer reflect an accurate picture of the Veteran’s disability.  Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400 (1997).
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:

1. Obtain any outstanding VA and private treatment records and associate them with the Veteran’s claims file. 

2. Following the receipt of any outstanding records, scheduled the Veteran for a VA examination with the appropriate medical personnel in order to determine the current severity of his chronic sinusitis.  The Veteran’s entire claims file, to include a copy of this remand, should be provided to the examiner.  Following a complete review of the record, the examiner is asked to provide the following opinion: 

Determine the current level of severity of the Veteran’s chronic sinusitis.  The examiner is asked to address the Veteran’s statements in his July 2016 VA Form 9 regarding the increase in the Veteran’s symptoms. 

All opinions provided must be supported by a complete rationale.  If the examiner must resort to speculation for any of the requested opinions, an explanation as to why this is so is required.
 
Michael J. Skaltsounis
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	P. Daugherty, Associate Counsel