Citation Nr: 18153117
Decision Date: 11/27/18	Archive Date: 11/27/18

DOCKET NO. 16-47 342
DATE:	November 27, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypothyroidism is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty in the U.S. Army from July 2002 to November 2013.
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from a December 2014 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office in Waco, Texas, which granted an evaluation of 10 percent effective November 7, 2013 for hypothyroidism.
The Veteran was notified of the claim decision in December 2014. The Veteran filed a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) in December 2014. The Veteran perfected her substantive appeal in VA Form 9 dated September 2016.
1. Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypothyroidism is remanded.
The Veteran contends that she is entitled to a rating higher than 10 percent for hypothyroidism because her service-connected hypothyroidism has worsened since the last VA examination in May 2014 as per the new criteria.
The duty to assist does not require that a claim be remanded solely because of the passage of time since an otherwise adequate VA examination was conducted. See VAOPGCPREC 11-95. A new examination, however, is appropriate when there is an assertion of an increase in severity since the last examination. See 38 C.F.R. § 3.159 (2017); see also Palczewski v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 174, 181 (2007); Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400, 403 (1997); VAOPGCPREC 11-95. 
Based on a review of the record, the Board finds that additional development is necessary prior to adjudication of the instant appeal. The Veteran essentially asserts that her service-connected hypothyroidism has worsened since the last VA examination in May 2014. Particularly, the Veteran contends her worsened symptoms require an increased rating for hypothyroidism. The Veteran avers that she has cold intolerance, muscle weakness, mental disturbance and forgetfulness, and weight gain. She also claims that she has chronic dry skin, extremely brittle nails, and claims that her TSH is elevated and claims that her medication is not controlling her thyroid condition to a stable level. 
In light of the assertions that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are more severe, a current examination must be afforded to accurately assess the current level of these disabilities. See Caffrey v. Brown, 6 Vet. App. 377, 381 (1994); Snuffer, 10 Vet. App. at 403. 
Also, any additional relevant private treatment records should be obtained and associated with the Veteran's record. See 38 C.F.R. § 3.159 (c)(2); Bell v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 611 (1992).
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Request that the Veteran identify any relevant private medical records that are not in the claims file. Attempt to obtain any records identified by the Veteran and associate these records with the claims file.
2. Obtain any updated VA treatment records and associate them with the claims file. 
3. Schedule the Veteran for an examination to determine the current severity of her service-connected hypothyroidism. The electronic claims file should be forwarded to the examiner for review. All indicated studies should be performed. The examiner should review the Veteran’s claims file in conjunction with the examination. Any tests deemed necessary should be conducted, and all clinical findings should be reported in detail. 
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. The examiner should elicit a complete history from the Veteran to include all symptom reported due to the service-connected condition. The examiner should address the Veteran’s contention that she had chronic dry skin and extremely brittle nails as a result of of hypothyroidism. Any opinions offered should be accompanied by the underlying reasons for the conclusions. 
 
K. J. ALIBRANDO
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	E. Steele, Associate Counsel