Citation Nr: 18155757
Decision Date: 12/06/18	Archive Date: 12/06/18

DOCKET NO. 16-52 789
DATE:	December 6, 2018
REMANDED
The propriety of the reduction for the rating of service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from 70 percent disabling to 30 percent disabling is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Army from January 2001 to April 2001 and from January 2003 to September 2003. 
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a July 2016 rating decision from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Newnan, Georgia.  
The Board acknowledges that in correspondence received in March 2018, the Veteran attempted to opt into the Rapid Appeals Modernization Program (RAMP) and it appears the Veteran had a separate issue adjudicated under RAMP.  However, to the extent that the Veteran meant that request to apply to this issue, the request was received at a time when the appeal was activated at the Board and no longer eligible for RAMP opt-in.  Therefore, the appeal will be processed through regular appeal processing procedures.
In November 2018, the Veteran’s attorney submitted a request that the Veteran’s case be advanced on the docket because the Veteran was homeless and receiving services from VA’s HUDVASH program.  The motion to advance the case on the docket is granted.  This appeal has been advanced on the Board’s docket pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 20.900 (c), 38 U.S.C. § 7107 (a)(2). 
REMAND
The most recent VA examination wherein the severity of the Veteran’s service-connected PTSD was assessed occurred in June 2015.  This examination is too remote, and the evidence of record is otherwise insufficient, to adequately assess the current severity of the Veteran’s PTSD.  Indeed, the Veteran and his attorney noted in recent correspondence that his symptoms have worsened in severity.  As such, a remand is warranted to provide the Veteran a current VA examination.  See Green v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 121, 124 (1991) (holding that VA’s duty to assist includes providing a thorough and contemporaneous medical examination).
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1.  The AOJ must schedule the Veteran for the appropriate VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected PTSD.  The Veteran’s electronic claims file must be made available to and reviewed by the examiner. The examiner must fully describe all manifestations of this disability.  All necessary tests must be conducted, and all clinical findings must be reported in detail.
2.  Finally, undertake any other development determined to be warranted, and then readjudicate the issue on appeal.  If the benefits sought on appeal are not granted to the Veteran’s satisfaction, furnish to the Veteran and his representative a supplemental statement of the case and afford them the requisite opportunity to respond.  Thereafter, if indicated, the case should be returned to the Board for further appellate action.
 
 T. REYNOLDS
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	T. Gresham