Citation Nr: 18148190
Decision Date: 11/07/18	Archive Date: 11/07/18

DOCKET NO. 18-10 196
DATE:	November 7, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use disorder is remanded.
Entitlement to a totals disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service connected disorders.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had active duty from March 1968 to March 1970.
While the Board sincerely regrets the additional delay, the Veteran’s claim for an increased rating for posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use disorder must be remanded for further development. Specifically, in his September 2017 notice of disagreement, the Veteran indicated that his October 2016 VA examination was inadequate. He also claimed that VA failed to consider VA treatment records when evaluating the severity of his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use disorder. 
After reviewing the February 2018 statement of the case, the Board observes that the Regional Office (RO) did not document any consideration of VA medical treatment records after October 2016 that were associated with the claims file and pertinent to the Veteran’s posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use disorder. As such, the claim must be readjudicated.
Further, the Board observes that the Veteran’s VA medical treatment records reflect that his symptoms may have increased, if indeed they are attributed to his psychiatric disorder. See VA medical treatment records dated in September 2017 (i.e. “episodes of confusion, memory loss on and off for 2 months.”). As such, a new VA examination is warranted.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain the Veteran’s VA medical treatment records dated from January 2018 forward.  If the RO cannot secure such a report, it must specifically document the attempts that were made to locate them, and explain in writing why further attempts to locate or obtain any government records would be futile. The RO must then: (a) notify the claimant of the specific report that it was unable to obtain; (b) explain the efforts VA has made to obtain that evidence; and (c) describe any further action it will take with respect to the claims. The claimant must then be given an opportunity to respond.
2. Thereafter, schedule the appropriate VA examination to assess the current level of the Veteran’s posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use disorder. The appellant’s VBMS and Virtual VA/Legacy files, as well as a copy of this remand must be made available to the examiner for review, and the examiner must specifically acknowledge receipt and review of these materials in any reports generated. All necessary tests should be performed. If possible, the appropriate Disability Benefits Questionnaire should be completed.  The examiner must specifically address the impact of the appellant’s posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use disorder on his ability to perform substantially gainful employment.  In so doing the examiner must specifically address the Social Security Administration finding that the appellant is disabled, in part, due to affective/mood disorders.
A complete and fully explanatory rationale must be provided for all opinions expressed. If the examiner finds that the requested opinion cannot be rendered without resorting to speculation, he or she should so state, and should indicate whether the need to speculate is caused by a deficiency in the state of general medical knowledge (i.e., no one could respond given the state of medical science and the known facts) or by a deficiency in the record (i.e., additional facts are required), or that the examiner does not have the necessary knowledge or training.
3. The RO must readjudicate the claim to include the appellant’s entitlement to benefits based on individual unemployability due to service connected disorders.
 
DEREK R. BROWN
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	N. Sangster, Counsel