Citation Nr: 18152836
Decision Date: 11/27/18	Archive Date: 11/26/18

DOCKET NO. 16-10 156
DATE:	November 27, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for superficial glans penile injury is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Navy from August 1991 to December 2010.  This matter is on appeal from a May 2013 rating decision.  
The Board notes that the February 2016 statement of the case (SOC) included several other increased rating and service connection claims.  However, on his February 2016 Form 9, the Veteran expressly limited his appeal to the increased rating claim for superficial glans penile injury.  Accordingly, it is the only issue currently before the Board.  
In November 2018, the Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge at a video conference hearing.   
Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for superficial glans penile injury is remanded.
Unfortunately, the Veteran’s appeal must be remanded for further development. Although the Board regrets the additional delay, it is necessary to ensure that there is a complete record upon which to decide this claim so that the Veteran is afforded every possible consideration. 
The Board notes that the Veteran last underwent a VA examination in August 2015.  During his November 2018 hearing, the Veteran testified that he suffers from loss of erectile power and urinary problems.  As this evidence indicates that the Veteran’s symptoms have increased in severity since he was last evaluated on examination, the Board finds that remand is warranted to afford the Veteran a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his penile injury.  See Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400, 403 (1997); see also Green v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 121, 124 (1991).
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination with a medical professional of appropriate expertise to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected superficial glans penile injury.  The examiner must review the claims file, including a copy of this REMAND, and that review should be noted in the examination report.  A complete history of symptoms should be elicited from the Veteran.    
After examining the Veteran and conducting any studies and/or tests deemed necessary, the examiner should fully describe all symptomatology and functional deficits associated with the Veteran’s superficial glans penile injury, including whether he has any deformity of the penis with loss of erectile power and/or a voiding dysfunction, and should opine as to their severity.  In this regard, the examiner should complete a male reproductive system conditions disability benefits questionnaire (DBQ) in connection with the examination. 

The Veteran’s lay statements regarding his symptomology must be recorded and taken into consideration.  
 
LESLEY A. REIN
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Melissa Barbee, Associate Counsel