Citation Nr: 21007347 Decision Date: 02/09/21 Archive Date: 02/09/21 DOCKET NO. 16-41 655 DATE: February 9, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran honorably served in the U.S. Army from July 1967 to September 1978. The Veteran was a recipient of the Air Medal with Numeral 9, Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Vietnam Service Medal with four Bronze Service Stars, and Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class. This issue comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from a June 2015 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) that continued the Veteran’s 10 percent rating for CAD. In February 2017, the Decision Review Officer (DRO) reviewed the claim and increased the Veteran’s rating to 30 percent, effective August 26, 2016. In June 2017, the Veteran received a rating decision that came from a special review of the file, mandated by the quality review team. This decision assigned his 10 percent rating effective date as December 23, 2004. The issue is now before the Board, as the Veteran seeks entitlement to a rating in excess of his 30 percent rating for CAD. In August 2020, the Veteran had a hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge (VLJ). A copy of the transcript has been added to the claims file and has been fully reviewed. Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) is remanded. The Veteran contends that he is entitled to a disability rating in excess of the current 30 percent rating he receives for his service-connected coronary artery disease. The Veteran was last afforded a VA examination in October 2016. The Veteran receives treatment for his CAD at the West Roxbury VAMC. He has also been seen at the Brockton VAMC, Boston VA facility, and Providence VAMC for cardiological care. These treatment records do not provide enough findings to properly evaluate the claim. During the Board hearing, Veteran’s counsel requested that a new test is administered to see if the Veteran’s rating can be increased in excess of 30 percent. Based on the facts above and the evidence of record, the Board finds that the Veteran’s last VA heart examination administered in October 2016 is too remote in time to serve as evidence of the current severity of the Veteran’s CAD disability. Accordingly, the Veteran must be afforded a new VA examination, and the claim must be remanded for additional development. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: (Continued on the next page)   1. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his coronary artery disease. The electronic claims file must be reviewed by the examiner, including this remand and its directives. All indicated tests and studies should be performed and the clinical findings should be reported in detail. H. SEESEL Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board E.L. Aumiller, Associate Counsel 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.