Citation Nr: 21040840
Decision Date: 07/07/21	Archive Date: 07/07/21

DOCKET NO. 18-20 964
DATE: July 7, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to an initial rating higher than 0 percent for costochondritis (claimed as chest pain) is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Navy from August 1986 to August 1990.

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from an April 2016 rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).  

The Veteran testified at a hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in July 2021.  This case is being remanded under VA's One Touch initiative; a transcript of the hearing will be associated with the file at a later date.  

Entitlement to an initial rating higher than 0 percent for costochondritis (claimed as chest pain) is remanded.

At the July 2021 Board hearing, the Veteran stated that his costochondritis had worsened since the April 2016 VA examination was performed.  Accordingly, the matter is remanded to arrange for a new examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's costochondritis.  See Palczewski v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 174, 181-82 (2007); 38 C.F.R. § 3.327(a). 

The matter is REMANDED for the following action:

1. Add to the file any outstanding VA treatment records pertaining to the Veteran dated since April 2018.

2. Arrange for an examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's costochondritis. 

 

 

P.M. DILORENZO

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	J. Rutkin, 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.