Citation Nr: 18139894
Decision Date: 10/01/18	Archive Date: 10/01/18

DOCKET NO. 16-10 192
DATE:	October 1, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had active military service from June 1976 to June 1980. 
This matter comes to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a December 2013 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in St. Louis, Missouri. 
Disability Rating - GAD
The Board notes that the Veteran has consistently asserted that he experienced symptoms of vertigo and dizziness as a result of his service-connected GAD.  Specifically, he asserts that anxiety, depression, and panic attacks have a direct relationship to vertigo.
A review of the record shows the Veteran was afforded a VA psychological examination in December 2015.  At that time, the Veteran reported he experienced dizziness with his panic attacks.  The examiner noted that the Veteran had “other symptoms attributable to mental disorders that are not listed above.”  No further explanation or elaboration was provided.  
The Board finds the December 2015 VA medical examination inadequate to decide the claim.  In this regard, the VA examiner failed to adequately consider the lay statements of record regarding the Veteran’s reports of dizziness and vertigo as related to his GAD.  Moreover, the examiner noted additional symptoms not listed, but failed to adequately explain or consider those symptoms when determining the severity of the Veteran’s GAD.  
A review of the record shows that the Veteran was afforded another VA psychological examination in September 2018. At that time, the examiner noted that the Veteran’s “severe fatigue due to hepatitis c mentioned throughout [the Veteran’s] file may warrant additional review.” 
The Board finds the September 2018 VA medical examination inadequate to decide the claim.  In this regard, the VA examiner failed to adequately consider the Veteran’s severe fatigue as related to his GAD.  
Therefore, the Board finds that the Veteran should be afforded a new VA examination to determine the severity of his service-connected GAD.
Additionally, current treatment records should be identified and obtained before a decision is made in this case.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Identify and obtain any pertinent, outstanding VA and private treatment records and associate them with the claims file.
2. Then, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination by an examiner with sufficient expertise to determine the current level of severity of all impairment resulting from his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder. The claims file must be made available to, and reviewed by the examiner.  All indicated tests and studies must be performed.  The examiner must provide all information required for rating purposes, to include whether the Veteran has dizziness and vertigo that are related to his GAD.
3. Confirm that the VA examination report comports with this remand, and undertake any other development found to be warranted.
4. Then, readjudicate the issue on appeal.  If the decision is adverse to the Veteran, issue a supplemental statement of the case and allow appropriate time for response.  Then, return the case to the Board.
 
Kristin Haddock
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Mariah N. Sim, Associate Counsel