Citation Nr: 0810975 Decision Date: 04/03/08 Archive Date: 04/14/08 DOCKET NO. 05-00 065A ) DATE ) ) On appeal from the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Atlanta, Georgia THE ISSUES 1. Entitlement to an initial increased rating for post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), currently evaluated as 50 percent disabling. 2. Entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. REPRESENTATION Appellant represented by: Georgia Department of Veterans Services ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD Amy M. Smith, Associate Counsel INTRODUCTION The veteran served on active military duty from June 1964 to June 1968. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from March 2004 and December 2004 rating actions of the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office (RO) in Atlanta, Georgia. The veteran's appeal is being REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC), in Washington, DC. VA will notify the appellant if further action is required. REMAND The veteran contends that the symptomatolgy associated with his service-connected PTSD is more severe than the current 50 percent evaluation indicates. He underwent a VA PTSD examination in November 2003, at which time his symptoms included flashbacks of Vietnam, social isolation, difficulty falling and staying asleep, irritability, outbursts of anger, and hypervigilance. He was assigned a GAF score of 50, and the examiner opined that the extent of his mood liability and agitation would interfere with successful employment in terms of sustaining interactions with others in a work environment. Review of VA treatment records since that time shows that these PTSD symptoms have continued, despite a combination of medication and repeated increase of dosage amounts. The veteran has also described additional symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations, as well as homicidal ideation. For these reasons, the veteran should be examined for VA purposes to determine his current disability level. Additionally, the record shows that the veteran has reported continued pertinent treatment at the VA outpatient clinic in Jacksonville, and that his doctor has stated that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities. The most recent VA treatment records contained in the claims file are dated in 2006. Updated treatment records should be obtained. Accordingly, the case is REMANDED for the following action: 1. The RO should obtain complete copies of records reflecting all VA medical and mental health treatment provided to the veteran since August 2006 at the Jacksonville VA facility for inclusion in the claims file. If the veteran has received treatment at any other facility, he should notify the RO so that these records may be obtained. 2. Thereafter, the veteran should be schedule for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and severity of his PTSD. The claims folder should be made available to the examiner in conjunction with the examination. In addition, the examiner is asked to identify the symptoms of PTSD the veteran manifests, and to the extent possible, distinguish between any symptoms that may be due to psychiatric disability other than PTSD. The examiner also is requested to set forth a GAF score with an explanation of the score, and specifically address the effect of the veteran's PTSD on his ability to obtain and maintain gainful employment. A complete rationale should be provided for all opinions expressed. 3. Following completion of the above, the RO should again review the record. If any benefit sought on appeal remains denied, the veteran and his representative should be furnished a supplemental statement of the case and given an opportunity to respond thereto. The veteran has the right to submit additional evidence and argument on matters the Board has remanded. Kutscherousky v. West, 12 Vet. App. 369 (1999). This claim must be afforded expeditious treatment. The law requires that all claims that are remanded by the Board or by the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court) for additional development or other appropriate action must be handled in an expeditious manner. See 38 U.S.C.A. §§ 5109B, 7112 (West Supp. 2007). _________________________________________________ MICHAEL E. KILCOYNE Veterans Law Judge, Board of Veterans' Appeals Under 38 U.S.C.A. § 7252 (West 2002), only a decision of the Board is appealable to the Court. This remand is in the nature of a preliminary order and does not constitute a decision of the Board on the merits of your appeal. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1100(b) (2007).