Citation Nr: 18140983
Decision Date: 10/09/18	Archive Date: 10/09/18

DOCKET NO. 15-40 169
DATE:	October 9, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected major depression is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had active service in the United States Army from June 1972 to June 1975. 
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a July 2013 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, which granted entitlement to service connection for major depression with a 30 percent evaluation effective February 17, 2009. The Veteran submitted a notice of disagreement in June 2014. A statement of the case was issued in September 2015. The Veteran perfected a timely substantive appeal via VA Form 9 in November 2015.
1. Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected major depression is remanded.
In a June 2017 letter to the Board, the Veteran’s representative requested that the matter be remanded for a new VA psychological examination to assess the ongoing and increasing impairment of the psychological disability. 
As there is a credible assertion that the depression has increased in severity since the prior January 2013 evaluation, the Veteran should be provided an opportunity to report for a VA examination to ascertain the current severity and manifestations of the service-connected disability.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of his service-connected major depression.  
(a.) The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms necessary for evaluating the Veteran’s disability under the rating criteria. The examiner must attempt to elicit information regarding the severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms.  
(b.) To the extent possible, the examiner should identify any symptoms and social and occupational impairment due to the major depression alone.
 
TANYA SMITH
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Jamison, Elizabeth G.