Citation Nr: 18144126
Decision Date: 10/24/18	Archive Date: 10/23/18

DOCKET NO. 15-32 039
DATE:	October 24, 2018
REMANDED
An initial rating higher than 50 percent for adjustment disorder with depressed mood is remanded.
Entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had active service in the U.S. Marine Corps from February 2007 to August 2007.  This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a September 2013 rating decision which granted service connection for adjustment disorder with depressed mood and assigned a 30 percent rating effective January 17, 2013.  The rating decision also denied a TDIU.  An August 2015 rating decision subsequently granted a 50 percent rating for adjustment disorder effective from October 8, 2010.
1. An initial rating higher than 50 percent for adjustment disorder with depressed mood is remanded.
2. Entitlement to a TDIU is remanded.
The Veteran’s claims were most recently adjudicated by the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) in August 2015.  Since that time, additional evidence, including VA outpatient records and the Veteran’s vocational rehabilitation folder, have been added to his claims file.  This evidence has not been reviewed by the AOJ.  In correspondence dated September 2018, the Veteran requested that his case be sent back to the AOJ for review of this additional evidence.  See 38 C.F.R. §§ 19.37(b), 20.1304(c).
The matters are REMANDED for the following action:
Send the Veteran a supplemental statement of the case to readjudicate the issues of an initial rating higher than 50 percent for adjustment disorder with depressed mood and entitlement to a TDIU, with due consideration given to additional evidence received since the August 2015 statement of the case.
 
M. TENNER
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Shamil Patel, Counsel