Citation Nr: 18142209
Decision Date: 10/15/18	Archive Date: 10/15/18

DOCKET NO. 16-17 960
DATE:	October 15, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
1. Entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.
The claims file includes VA treatment records through April 2015.  On remand, any outstanding VA treatment records should be associated with the record.
VA has a duty, when appropriate, to conduct a thorough and contemporaneous examination of the Veteran that considers records of prior examinations and treatment.  See Green v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 121 (1991).  A review of the claims file reveals that the Veteran was afforded a VA examination her hearing loss in May 2015 – over 3 years ago.  In the July 2015 Notice of Disagreement and the April 2016 VA Form 9, the Veteran asserted that his PTSD symptoms are more disabling than reflected in his most recent VA examination.  As such, a current examination is necessary.  See Caffrey v. Brown, 6 Vet. App. 377, 381 (1995) (VA was required to afford a contemporaneous medical examination where examination report was approximately two years old).
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain the Veteran’s VA treatment records from April 2015 to present.
2. Arrange for the Veteran to undergo a VA examination to determine the current severity of his PTSD.
3. Readjudicate the appeal. 
 
R. FEINBERG
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	J.A. Williams, Associate Counsel