Citation Nr: 18154617
Decision Date: 12/04/18	Archive Date: 11/30/18

DOCKET NO. 16-59 970
DATE:	December 4, 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 from January 1953 to December 1954.
This matter comes to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a November 2015 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in St. Petersburg, Florida.
This matter was previously before the Board, and in July 2017, the Board remanded the for further development of the evidence.
The Veteran testified at a personal hearing in June 2018, and a transcript of the hearing is of record.
Entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is remanded.
The Veteran contends that he is entitled to an increased initial disability rating for his PTSD.  He Veteran testified at a personal hearing before the Board in June 2018 that his condition had gotten worse since his last VA examination (which had been conducted in September 2017).  See Transcript.  Once VA undertakes to provide the Veteran with a VA examination, VA must provide the Veteran with an adequate one, and an adequate examination is sufficiently detailed to provide an adequate description of the Veteran’s disability.  Barr v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 303 (2007).  Therefore, this matter must be remanded for a new VA examination evaluating the current severity of the Veteran’s PTSD.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Copies of pertinent treatment records should be obtained and added to the claims file.
2. Following completion of the above, arrange to provide the Veteran with a VA examination in order evaluate the current severity of the Veteran’s PTSD.
 
BARBARA B. COPELAND
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	David R. Seaton, Associate Counsel