Citation Nr: 18145680
Decision Date: 10/29/18	Archive Date: 10/29/18

DOCKET NO. 16-05 264
DATE:	October 29, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty in the Navy from May 1966 to February 1970.  His awards and decorations include the Vietnam Campaign Medal and Vietnam Service Medal.    
On his February 2016 substantive appeal (VA Form 9), the Veteran did not indicate whether he wanted a Board hearing.  In September 2018, the Board sent a letter to the Veteran to clarify whether he wished to have a hearing before the Board.  The Veteran failed to respond within 30 days, and as such, the claim will be considered on the basis of the current record.
Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is remanded.
The Veteran contends that his service-connected PTSD warrants an initial rating of 50 percent.  A rating of 30 percent is effective from June 25, 2014.
The Veteran was afforded an initial VA examination for his PTSD in September 2014 and the examination was adequate for rating purposes at that time.  However, this examination is unduly remote, as it is over four years old.  The Board is unable to determine the current severity of the Veteran’s service-connected PTSD, and concludes that a remand is needed to afford the Veteran an opportunity to undergo an updated VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of this disability and to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records. 
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain all outstanding VA treatment records. Any attempts to obtain these records and responses received thereafter should be associated with the Veteran’s claims file.  The Veteran should also be offered the opportunity to submit any private treatment records in support of his claim.
2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of his service-connected PTSD.  The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms necessary for evaluating the Veteran’s disability under the rating criteria.  The examiner must attempt to elicit information regarding the severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms.  To the extent possible, the examiner should identify any symptoms and social and occupational impairment due to PTSD alone.

 
JENNIFER HWA
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	J. Freeman, Associate Counsel