Citation Nr: 18152236
Decision Date: 11/21/18	Archive Date: 11/21/18

DOCKET NO. 16-53 306A
DATE:	November 21, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is remanded.
Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity sensory dysfunction is remanded.
Entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left extremity radiculopathy is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from August 1984 to February 1988.
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a June 2015 rating decision of the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  The RO in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, currently has jurisdiction over the case.
1. Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is remanded.
2. Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity sensory dysfunction is remanded.
3. Entitlement to an initial in excess of 10 percent for left extremity radiculopathy is remanded.
Unfortunately, a remand is required in this case.  Following the issuance of the September 2016 Statement of the Case, additional relevant evidence has been associated with the Veteran’s file including VA examination reports dated in February 2017 and April 2018.  However, the RO has not provided the Veteran with a Supplemental Statement of the Case.  This must be accomplished on remand.
As the case must be remanded, the Veteran’s updated VA treatment records should be obtained and he should be scheduled for appropriate VA examinations, as set forth below.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Make arrangements to obtain the Veteran’s VA treatment records dated since November 2016.
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2. Thereafter, schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination(s) to evaluate his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity sensory dysfunction.  The appropriate Disability Benefits Questionnaire(s) (DBQ) should be filled out.
3. After completing any development that may be indicated, readjudicate the Veteran’s claims.  If the benefits sought are not granted, the Veteran and his representative must be furnished a supplemental statement of the case and afforded a reasonable opportunity to respond before the record is returned to the Board for further review.
 
P.M. DILORENZO
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	L. Sinckler, Associate Counsel