Citation Nr: 18156840 Decision Date: 12/11/18 Archive Date: 12/11/18 DOCKET NO. 17-00 429 DATE: December 11, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served in the United States Navy from June 1996 to December 2009. While the Board sincerely regrets the delay, additional development is required before the Veteran’s claim may be adjudicated on the merits. 1. Entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded. The Veteran and his representative assert that the Veteran is entitled to a higher rating for PTSD because his symptoms are worse than contemplated by his current rating of 30 percent. The Veteran submitted his VA Form 9 Substantive Appeal in December 2016. On this form, the Veteran stated that his symptoms had increased in severity. Specifically, the Veteran indicated that he was suffering from suicidal ideation, inability to maintain relationships, anger outbursts which can result in periods of violence, and the inability to leave his house. See, December 2016 VA Form 9. The symptoms that the Veteran endorsed in December 2016 are more severe than as indicated during his last VA examination, which occurred in June 2016. As the Board finds that the Veteran’s symptoms have worsened since his last VA examination, VA is required to afford the Veteran with a contemporaneous VA examination to assess the current nature, extent, and severity of his PTSD. Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400 (1997). Additionally, the Veteran’s post-service VA treatment records have not been obtained since June 2016, at which time the Veteran was establishing treatment for his PTSD. While on remand, the Veteran’s most recent VA treatment should be obtained and associated with the Veteran’s record. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain any outstanding VA treatment records and associate them with the Veteran’s claims file. 2. Once any outstanding records have been obtained, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination with the appropriate medical personnel to determine the current severity of his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran’s entire claims file, to include a copy of this remand, should be provided to the examiner. Following a complete review of the record, the examiner is asked to provide the following opinion: Determine the current level of severity of the Veteran’s PTSD. Michael J. Skaltsounis Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD P. Daugherty, Associate Counsel