Citation Nr: 22017307
Decision Date: 03/24/22	Archive Date: 03/24/22

DOCKET NO. 18-37 242
DATE: March 24, 2022

REMANDED

Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for aortic valvular heart disease is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from August 1976 to August 1979.

On appeal is a March 2018 rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) that granted service connection for aortic valvular heart disease and assigned a 10 percent disability rating. On appeal, the Veteran is challenging the assigned disability rating.

The Veteran testified at a virtual hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in November 2021. A transcript of that hearing has been associated with the claims file. The matter is now before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) for appellate review.

Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for aortic valvular heart disease is remanded.

The Board finds that additional development is needed prior to appellate review of the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for aortic valvular heart disease.

The Board notes that the last VA examination of record for this issue was conducted in October 2018. However, at the Board hearing in this matter in November 2021, the Veteran testified that his symptoms had worsened since the October 2018 VA examination, and that his symptoms now include fatigue, chest pains, dizzy spells, and a racing heartbeat. As such, the Board finds that a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's aortic valvular heart disease. See Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400, 403 1997).

The matter is REMANDED for the following action:

Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected aortic valvular heart disease.  All necessary studies and tests should be conducted. The entire claims file, to include a complete copy of this remand, must be made available to, and reviewed by, the designated examiner. 

The examiner must fully describe all symptomatology and the functional effects associated with this disability. To this end, the Board notes the Veteran has reported symptoms that include fatigue, chest pains, dizzy spells, and a racing heartbeat.

The rationale for all opinions expressed must be provided.   

 

Caroline B. Fleming

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	Bess, 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.