Citation Nr: 18143469
Decision Date: 10/19/18	Archive Date: 10/19/18

DOCKET NO. 16-22 825
DATE:	October 19, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.
Entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for right ankle degenerative joint disease (DJD) is remanded.
Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a painful scar, right ankle, is remanded.
Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for a right ankle linear surgical scar is remanded.
Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right ankle laxity is remanded.  
Entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is remanded.  
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty in the U.S. Army from February 1985 to March 1993.  
This case comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from June 2013 and August 2013 rating decisions issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Columbia, South Carolina.     
The Board finds that additional development is required before the claims on appeal are decided.  
Increased Rating Claims
PTSD
In a May 2018 Informal Hearing Presentation (IHP), the Veteran’s representative contended that the Veteran’s PTSD has worsened since his September 2015 VA examination.  Thus, the Board finds that another VA examination is needed to ascertain the current severity and manifestations of the Veteran’s service-connected PTSD.   
Right Ankle Disabilities
In the above mentioned IHP, the Veteran’s representative contended that the Veteran’s right ankle disabilities have worsened since his September 2015 VA examination.  Additionally, a review of the September 2015 VA ankle examination report shows that the findings reported are not in compliance with the requirements outlined in Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016).  Thus, Board finds that another VA examination(s) is needed to ascertain the severity and manifestations of his right ankle DJD, right ankle laxity, right ankle linear surgical scar, and right ankle painful scar.  
Entitlement to a TDIU
The Board also notes that the issue of entitlement to TDIU is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claims remanded herein.  Harris v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 180, 183 (1991).  Hence, a determination on the claim for TDIU should be deferred pending final disposition of the claims for an increased rating for PTSD, right ankle DJD, right ankle laxity, right ankle linear surgical scar, and right ankle painful scar.  
The matters are 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. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination by an examiner with appropriate expertise to determine the current level of severity of all impairment resulting from his PTSD in accordance with VA rating criteria.  The claims file must be made available to, and reviewed by the examiner.  
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3. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination(s) by an examiner with appropriate expertise to determine the current level of severity of all impairment resulting from his right ankle laxity, right ankle DJD, right ankle linear surgical scar, and right ankle painful scar in accordance with VA rating criteria.  The claims file must be made available to, and reviewed by the examiner.
 
L. B. CRYAN
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	C. O’Donnell, Associate Counsel