Citation Nr: 18145981
Decision Date: 10/30/18	Archive Date: 10/30/18

DOCKET NO. 16-39 447
DATE:	October 30, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder is remanded.
Entitlement to a total disability rating due individual unemployability is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served in the United States Army from December 1970 to January 1974.  The issues are on appeal from January 2014 and June 2015 rating decisions.
1. Entitlement to an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.
The Veteran was last afforded a VA examination for his PTSD in April 2015, and the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) finds that an examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran’s mental health symptoms, particularly since the Veteran has alleged that the VA examination was inadequate as it had not fully addressed his complaints or symptoms, nor had the examiner considered the opinion of his treating psychiatrist. 
Further, as the issue is already being remanded, any outstanding treatment records should be obtained.  The most recent VA medical center record is from January 2016.  The file also contains medical records from a private physician, with the last record dated May 2015.

2. Entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.
As the TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the remanded increased rating claim for PTSD, it will also be remanded pending adjudication of those claims.  See Harris v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 180, 183 (1991) (two or more issues are inextricably intertwined if one claim could have significant impact on the other).
The matters are REMANDED for the following action:
1. Associate any outstanding treatment records, both VA nad non-VA with the claims file to the extent possible.
2. Schedule the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the current extent and severity of symptoms associated with the service-connected PTSD.
The examiner must opine on the following:
(a) The current level of occupational and social impairment;
(b) The Veteran’s functional limitations due to PTSD, including how they may relate to his ability to function in a work setting and to perform work tasks.  
A complete rationale for all medical opinions is required.  The examiner should identify and explain the relevance or significance, as appropriate, of any history, clinical findings, medical knowledge or literature, etc., relied upon in reaching the conclusion(s).

3. Readjudicate the appeal.
 
L. M. BARNARD
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	J. Lee, Associate Counsel