Citation Nr: 18161003 Decision Date: 12/28/18 Archive Date: 12/28/18 DOCKET NO. 17-10 706 DATE: December 28, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for tension headaches is remanded. Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for restless leg syndrome is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served active duty in the United States Army from July 2001 to July 2005. 1. Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for tension headaches is remanded. 2. Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for restless leg syndrome is remanded. The Veteran contends that his tension headaches and restless leg syndrome are such that they warrant compensable ratings. The Veteran’s last VA examinations for his disabilities were in February 2015. When available evidence is too old for an adequate evaluation of the Veteran’s current condition, VA’s duty to assist includes providing a new examination. Weggenmann v. Brown, 5 Vet. App. 281 (1993). The Board finds that the February 2015 examinations are somewhat remote, and there is insufficient medical evidence on file from which the Board can accurately determine the current severity of the Veteran’s tension headaches and restless leg syndrome. Therefore, a remand is necessary. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Schedule the Veteran with an appropriate examiner(s) to determine the current severity of the Veteran’s tension headaches and restless leg syndrome. a. The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms necessary for evaluating the Veteran’s headaches under the rating criteria. The examiner must attempt to elicit information regarding the severity, frequency, and duration of any flare-ups, and the degree of functional loss during flare-ups. To the extent possible, the examiner should identify any symptoms and functional impairments due to headaches alone and discuss the effect of the Veteran’s headache disability on any occupational functioning and activities of daily living. b. The examiner should provide a full description of the Veteran’s restless leg syndrome and report all signs and symptoms necessary for evaluating the Veteran's disability under the rating criteria. The examiner must attempt to elicit information regarding the severity, frequency, and duration of any flare-ups, and the degree of functional loss during flare-ups. To the extent possible, the examiner should identify any symptoms and functional impairments due to restless leg syndrome alone and discuss the effect of the Veteran's restless leg syndrome on any occupational functioning and activities of daily living. JENNIFER HWA Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD C. Ford, Associate Counsel