Citation Nr: 20021849
Decision Date: 03/27/20	Archive Date: 03/27/20

DOCKET NO. 18-28 239
DATE: March 27, 2020

REMANDED

Entitlement to a compensable disability rating for status postnasal fracture with slight nasal septal deviation and allergic rhinitis.

 

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from October 1996 to October 2000, and from March 2003 to June 2003.

In February 2010, the Veteran testified at a Board hearing before the undersigned Acting Veterans Law Judge.  A transcript is of record. 

Entitlement to a compensable disability rating for status postnasal fracture with slight nasal septal deviation and allergic rhinitis is remanded.

This issue is remanded for a new VA examination and to obtain any outstanding VA or private medical records.  

At his February 2020 Board hearing, the Veteran testified that his nasal symptoms had worsened since his most recent VA examination in November 2015.  He described symptoms not noted when he was last examined, to include complete obstruction of the on one nasal passage, with some blockage of the other.  Reportedly, the obstruction was so severe that he breathed through his mouth.  

In light of the Veteran’s testimony that his status postnasal fracture with slight nasal septal deviation and allergic rhinitis has increased in severity since his last VA examination, remand is needed to afford a new examination to evaluate the severity of the disability.

Upon remand, all necessary effort should also be taken to obtain any further VA and/or private medical records.  

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Ask the Veteran to complete a VA Form 21-4142 for any private (non-VA) providers or facilities who may have additional medical records.  

Make two requests for any authorized records, unless it is clear after the first request that a second request would be futile.

2. Obtain the Veteran’s outstanding VA treatment records, including records of all treatment obtained through VA’s Choice program and all records scanned into his electronic health record.

3. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of his service-connected disability.  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.  

 

 

Corey Bosely

Acting Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	Azizi, T.

The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.