Citation Nr: 21010677 Decision Date: 02/25/21 Archive Date: 02/25/21 DOCKET NO. 14-40 900 DATE: February 25, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to September 20, 2011; in excess of 40 percent from September 20, 2011, to December 1, 2014; and in excess of 10 percent thereafter, for service-connected left leg varicose veins, to include whether the reduction from 40 percent to 10 percent, effective December 1, 2014, was proper is remanded. Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right leg varicose veins is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from May 1975 to May 1981. The Veteran testified before the Board at an April 2018 hearing. A transcript is associated with the claims file. In connection with the Board’s March 2018 remand, the Veteran was afforded a VA examination to address the current nature and severity of his service-connected bilateral leg varicose veins in October 2019. Subsequently, however, his private treatment records indicate that he underwent three separate radiofrequency ablation procedures on both lower extremities in February 2020, May 2020, and July 2020. Given the foregoing, the Board finds that a more contemporaneous examination is needed to fully and fairly evaluate the Veteran’s claims on appeal. See Allday v. Brown, 7 Vet. App. 517 (1995); Caffrey v. Brown, 6 Vet. App. 377 (1994); Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400 (1997). On remand, the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) should associate with the claims file any outstanding VA treatment records. Additionally, he should be given the opportunity to provide any additional evidence in support of the claims on appeal, to include any private treatment records. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain a complete copy of all VA treatment records dated since December 2019. 2. Give the Veteran an opportunity to identify any outstanding pertinent evidence that has not already been associated with the claims file. The AOJ should then attempt to obtain those records if the appropriate authorization is provided. 3. Schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected bilateral leg varicose veins. All efforts to schedule the Veteran for an examination in or near Dallas, Texas should be taken. The entire record must be made available to and be reviewed by the examiner, and the examination report should note that review. Any indicated evaluations, studies, and tests should be conducted. The examiner should identify the nature and severity of all current manifestations of his service-connected bilateral leg varicose veins, to include the presence and frequency of edema, subcutaneous induration, stasis pigmentation or eczema, and/or ulceration. All examination findings/testing results, along with a complete, clearly-stated rationale for any opinion offered, must be provided. 4. Thereafter, and after any further development deemed necessary, the issues on appeal should be readjudicated. V. Chiappetta Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board James R. Springer, 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.