Citation Nr: 18144942
Decision Date: 10/25/18	Archive Date: 10/25/18

DOCKET NO. 17-27 057
DATE:	October 25, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Army from April 1971 to March 1977, including service in the Republic of Vietnam
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a March 2016 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
1. Entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.
For three primary reasons, the Veteran’s claim must be remanded before the Board can proceed with this matter.
First, in his April 2016 Notice of Disagreement, the Veteran contended that VA had discounted the findings of his private mental health treatment provider.  Upon review of the record, however, only two separate encounters from his claimed provider are of record.  Upon remand, the Veteran must be afforded the opportunity to submit additional treatment records from his private treatment provider, or to provide a release for VA to obtain those records on his behalf.
Second, the Veteran has contended that his symptoms are more severe than reflected in his one VA examination of record.  As the Veteran’s claim must be remanded, an updated VA examination must also be obtained.
Finally, since the time of his last Statement of the Case, additional VA treatment records have been added to the file.  Upon remand, the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) must be provided the opportunity to review those records and any other records generated as a result of this remand.  
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Provide the Veteran the opportunity to submit additional treatment records from his private treatment provider, H. J., MD, or any other private provider who he has seen for treatment of his service-connected psychiatric disorder
2. Schedule the Veteran for an appropriate examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

 
Evan M. Deichert
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Saudiee Brown, Associate Counsel