Citation Nr: 18157136
Decision Date: 12/13/18	Archive Date: 12/11/18

DOCKET NO. 12-23 366
DATE:	December 13, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle is remanded.
Entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right ankle is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served honorably on active duty in the United States Army from February 1976 to February 1998.  This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from a September 2009 rating decision issued by a Regional Office (RO) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  The Board previously considered and remanded this matter in July 2016 and August 2017 for further evidentiary development.
Entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the left and right ankle is remanded.
A January 2018 request for medical records from the Social Security Administration (SSA) indicates that the Veteran has filed for disability benefits administered by that agency.  The medical records underlying that determination are potentially relevant to the course and severity of the disabilities currently on appeal and a remand is required to allow VA to request these records.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain any outstanding VA treatment records not currently of record and associate them with the claims file.
2. Obtain the Veteran’s federal records from SSA relating to any claims for disability benefits.  Document all requests for information as well as all responses in the claims file.
 
MATTHEW TENNER
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	B. Whitelaw, Associate Counsel