Citation Nr: 18154018
Decision Date: 11/28/18	Archive Date: 11/28/18

DOCKET NO. 15-00 509
DATE:	November 28, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for right ankle arthritis is remanded.
Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for right knee chondromalacia patella is remanded.
Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for left knee chondromalacia patella is remanded.
Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for right heel spur is remanded.
Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for left heel spur is remanded.
Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) and hiatal hernia is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from February 1991 to February 2011.
These matters come before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a May 2012 rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Entitlement to initial compensable ratings for right ankle arthritis, right knee chondromalacia patella, left knee chondromalacia patella, right heel spur, left heel spur and GERD and hiatal hernia are remanded.
The Veteran contends the most recent VA examination does not adequately reflect the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.  See the October 2018 Informal Hearing Presentation.  The record reflects the Veteran last underwent VA examination in December 2010 for the above listed disabilities.  Based on the foregoing, the Board finds new VA examinations are required to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.
The matters are REMANDED for the following action:
1. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to ascertain the current severity of his service-connected right ankle arthritis, right and left knee chondromalacia patella, right and left heel spurs and GERD with hiatal hernia.  Any appropriate evaluations, studies, and testing deemed necessary by the examiner should be conducted, and the results included in the examination report.  The electronic claims file, including a copy of this remand should be reviewed in conjunction with this examination.
With respect to the Veteran’s service-connected right ankle and right and left knee disabilities, the examiner should conduct range of motion testing (expressed in degrees) of these disabilities on both active motion and passive motion and in both weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing (as appropriate) and if possible, each joint should be contrasted with the range of the opposite undamaged joint.  Correia, 28 Vet. App. at 168-70.  If the examiner is unable to conduct the required testing or concludes the required testing is not necessary in this case, he or she should clearly so state and explain why. 
The examiner should render specific findings as to whether, during the examination, there is objective evidence of pain on motion, weakness, excess fatigability, and/or incoordination associated with the knee.  If pain on motion is observed, the examiner should indicate the point at which pain begins.  
In addition, based on examination results and the Veteran’s documented history and assertions, the examiner should indicate whether, and to what extent, the Veteran experiences likely functional loss of the left knee due to pain and/or any other symptoms noted above during flare-ups and/or with repeated use; to the extent possible, the examiner should express any such additional functional loss in terms of additional degrees of limited motion.
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2. After the above development, and any additionally indicated development, has been completed, readjudicate the issues on appeal.  If the benefits sought are not granted to the Veteran’s satisfaction, send the Veteran and his representative a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) and provide an opportunity to respond.  If necessary, return the case to the Board for further appellate review.
 
KRISTI L. GUNN
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	K. McDuffie, Associate Counsel