Citation Nr: 18157765
Decision Date: 12/13/18	Archive Date: 12/13/18

DOCKET NO. 10-11 022
DATE:	December 13, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to compensable rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis for the period prior to October 3, 2008 and in excess of 30 percent thereafter is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from October 1983 to February 1987, March 1996 to September 1996, and from October 1992 to February 1993.  He received the Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Overseas Service Ribbon; Air Force Training Ribbon; Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar; and Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Grenade Bar.
In December 2018, a Travel Board hearing was held and the Veteran testified before the undersigned Veteran’s Law Judge.
Increased Rating for Bilateral Plantar Fasciitis
The Veteran’s last examination was in March 2014.  Since that time, the Veteran alleges that his condition has worsened.  Accordingly, the Veteran should be afforded an opportunity to undergo an examination in order to ascertain the current severity of his bilateral plantar fasciitis. Palczewski v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 174, 181 (2007).
Further, the Veteran indicated at the December 2018 hearing that there are outstanding relevant VA and private treatment records.  On remand, the Regional Office should take appropriate steps to obtain and associate the outstanding treatment records with the claims file.
The matters are REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain outstanding treatment records from the Parkersburg VA Medical Center and associate them with the claims file.
2. Provide the Veteran with the appropriate notification and release forms needed to obtain private treatment records related to his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis.  If such efforts are unsuccessful, provide the Veteran with an opportunity to secure and submit the records.
3. Schedule the Veteran for an examination to ascertain the current severity of the Veteran’s bilateral plantar fasciitis.  Any indicated evaluations, studies, and tests deemed necessary by the examiner should be accomplished.  The entire claims file, to include a complete copy of this REMAND, should be made available to the examiner designated to provide an opinion.
The examiner should describe all symptomatology due to the Veteran’s service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis.  The examiner should also offer an opinion as to whether the level of impairment due to plantar fasciitis is moderate, moderately severe, or severe.
The examiner is advised that the Veteran is competent to report his symptoms and history, and such reports must be considered.  If the examiner rejects the Veteran’s reports, the examiner must provide a reason for doing so.

 
A. S. CARACCIOLO
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	W.V. Walker, Associate Counsel