Citation Nr: 18144254
Decision Date: 10/25/18	Archive Date: 10/24/18

DOCKET NO. 16-35 129
DATE:	October 25, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for other trauma and stressor related disorder, and unspecified sleep disorder.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran, who is the appellant in this case, served on active duty from May 2011 to July 2015, including service in Afghanistan.
A remand is necessary to provide the Veteran with a new VA examination in connection with his claim for an increased rating.
The Veteran was afforded a VA examination pertaining to his mental health disorders in July 2015 in connection with his service connection claim.  In addition, the Veteran’s asserts, in his July 2016 substantive appeal, that his symptoms are worse.  See Appeal to Board of Veterans’ Appeals (VA Form 9) received July 22, 2016.  In light of the suggestion of worsening disability since the last VA examination, a new and contemporaneous examination should be afforded to the Veteran to ensure that his mental health disorders are properly rated.  See Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400, 403 (1997).
Additionally, there is evidence of record suggestive of other mental health symptoms, to include symptoms of anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  Prior to his separation from service, the Veteran had a positive PTSD screening, and he identified several symptoms related to his mental health disorders, including anxiety, irritability, angry outbursts, hypervigilance, intrusive memories and dreams, and disrupted sleep dating from an October 2012 explosion in his compound during his deployment to Afghanistan.  See e.g. Winn Army Community Hospital treatment records dated February 19, 2015 and May 15, 2015.  Following separation from service, PTSD symptoms were noted by the Veteran’s VA physician.  See VA treatment record addendum dated October 14, 2015.
Accordingly, a comprehensive mental health examination is needed to identify and consider all psychiatric symptoms shown throughout the rating period on appeal.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1.  Ensure that all outstanding VA treatment records are associated with the claims file.
2.  Then, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected psychiatric disabilities.  The examiner is requested to review all pertinent records associated with the claims file.  
Specifically, the examiner is asked to identify all current and related psychiatric symptoms and disabilities, and assess their severity.
Although the entire claims file should be reviewed, the examiner’s attention is directed to the following:  The Veteran’s lay statements included with his Notice of Disagreement dated December 29, 2015 (See VBMS 01/04/2016 NOD); The Veteran’s lay statements included with his substantive appeal (VA Form 9) (See VBMS 07/22/2016 Form 9); and a post-service VA treatment records (See VBMS 01/04/2016 CAPRI: VA treatment record “Addendum” dated Oct. 14, 2015 signed by H.B., MD at PDF pg. 4 of 28).
A rationale should be given for all opinions and conclusions rendered.
3. Thereafter, readjudicate the claim on appeal.
 
S. B. MAYS
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Brad Farrell, Associate Counsel