Citation Nr: 18155212
Decision Date: 12/04/18	Archive Date: 12/03/18

DOCKET NO. 16-55 993
DATE:	December 4, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The appellant is a Veteran who served on active duty from August 1998 to August 2002 and from November 2004 to December 2005.  This matter is before the Board on appeal from a December 2015 rating decision.
Entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.
In an August 2016 statement, the Veteran stated that the information he provided on October 2015 VA examination was inaccurate.  He stated that he felt like he was answering questions under duress, as if he were “on trial”, and therefore was not as forthcoming as he should have been.  In November 2016 he stated that he experiences nearly daily impaired impulse control, unprovoked irritability, neglect of personal hygiene, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, and inability to establish and maintain effective relationships.  Given the length of the intervening period since he was last examined and the allegation of worsening, a contemporaneous examination to assess the disability is necessary.
Any outstanding pertinent VA treatment records are constructively of record, and must be secured.
The matter is REMANDED for the following:
1.  Obtain for the record the Veteran’s complete updated records of VA mental health treatment.
2.  Then, arrange for a psychiatric evaluation of the Veteran to assess the severity of his PTSD.  The examiner should review the Veteran’s claims file and the schedular criteria for rating mental disorders.  The examiner should describe in detail all signs and symptoms of PTSD, noting the presence or absence of all symptoms listed in the schedular criteria for psychiatric ratings above 50 percent, as well as any symptoms of equivalent nature and severity found that are not listed in the schedular criteria.  The examiner should describe the impact the PTSD has on the Veteran’s occupational and daily activity living functioning.

 
GEORGE R. SENYK
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	D. Schechner, Counsel