Citation Nr: 18145903
Decision Date: 10/30/18	Archive Date: 10/30/18

DOCKET NO. 16-40 857
DATE:	October 30, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with a history of alcohol use disorder is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from March 1971 to March 1973.
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a rating decision by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). 
PTSD
A review of the claims file reveals that a remand is unfortunately necessary before a decision on the merits of the claim can be reached. 
A Statement of the Case (SOC) was issued in August 2016.  Thereafter, the Veteran was afforded a VA examination for his PTSD in May 2017.   However, the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) did not issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) to address this issue. 
An SSOC must be furnished to the Veteran and his representative when additional pertinent evidence is received after the most recent SOC.  38 C.F.R. §§ 19.31, 19.37.  As the VA examination is pertinent to the issue of whether the Veteran’s PTSD warrants a higher initial rating, a remand for consideration of this evidence and issuance of an SSOC is required.  
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Issue an SSOC as to the issue of entitlement to initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD that includes consideration of the May 2017 VA examination and any other evidence that has been received since the August 2016 SOC.
2.  If the benefit sought on appeal is not granted and after the Veteran has had an adequate opportunity to respond, the appeal should be returned to the Board for appellate review. 
 
KELLI A. KORDICH
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	A. Cryan, Counsel