Citation Nr: 18149657
Decision Date: 11/13/18	Archive Date: 11/13/18

DOCKET NO. 18-27 745
DATE:	November 13, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for Raynaud’s phenomenon is remanded.
Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for adjustment disorder is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty in the U.S. Army from March 2011 to November 2014, to include service in Afghanistan from April 2013 to March 2014.
This matter comes to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a March 2015 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in San Diego, California.
1.  Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for Raynaud's phenomenon is remanded.
2.  Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for adjustment disorder is remanded.
The Veteran asserts, through her representative, that her service-connected Raynaud’s phenomenon and adjustment disorder have worsened since her most recent VA examinations in December 2014 and February 2015.  She contends that air conditioning exacerbates her Raynaud’s phenomenon and that adequate attention has not been given to the functional effects of the sleep difficulties she experiences in connection with her adjustment disorder.  Remand is required to afford the Veteran VA examinations to obtain more current information as to the severity of her disorders.
Updated records of any relevant VA treatment should also be procured.  See, e.g., Bell v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 611 (1992) (holding that VA is charged with constructive notice of medical evidence in its possession).
These matters are REMANDED for the following actions:
1.  Obtain copies of records pertaining to any relevant VA treatment the Veteran has received since the time that such records were last procured, following the procedures set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 3.159.  The evidence obtained, if any, should be associated with the record.
2.  After the foregoing development has been completed to the extent possible, arrange to have the Veteran scheduled for an examination by an appropriate clinician for purposes of assessing the current severity of her service-connected Raynaud’s phenomenon.  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.  To the extent possible, the examiner should discuss the effect of the Veteran’s Raynaud’s phenomenon on occupational functioning and activities of daily living.  
3.  Also arrange to have the Veteran scheduled for an examination by an appropriate clinician for purposes of assessing the current severity of her service-connected adjustment disorder.  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.  To the extent possible, the examiner should discuss the effect of the Veteran’s adjustment disorder on occupational functioning and activities of daily living.
4.  After completing the above, and any other development as may be indicated by any response received as a consequence of the actions taken in the preceding paragraphs, the Veteran’s claims should be readjudicated based on the entirety of the evidence.  If any benefit sought remains denied, the Veteran and her representative should be issued a supplemental statement of the case.  An appropriate period of time should be allowed for response.
 
DAVID A. BRENNINGMEYER
Acting Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	R. R. Watkins, Counsel