Citation Nr: 18157073
Decision Date: 12/11/18	Archive Date: 12/11/18

DOCKET NO. 17-03 545
DATE:	December 11, 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 had active service in the United States Navy from September 2002 to September 2006.
This matter comes to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an April 2016 Decision Review Officer (DRO) decision.
1.  Entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is remanded.
The Veteran was last provided with a VA examination to evaluate his PTSD disability in April 2016.  The Veteran’s representative subsequently reported that the Veteran’s disability has “taken a turn for the worse,” and the representative recommended that the Board remand the case for the RO to schedule an examination.  See January 2018 Statement.  Based on this evidence, the Board finds that an updated VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of the Veteran's PTSD should be obtained on remand.  See VAOPGCPREC 11-95 (April 7, 1995); see also Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400 (1997); Caffrey v. Brown, 6 Vet. App. 377 (1994).
In addition, there appear to be outstanding Social Security Administration (SSA) records.  In January 2013, a VA treatment record stated that the Veteran’s current source of income was Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits.  However, the record does not include any associated records.  As the record does not reflect that the AOJ has attempted to obtain these SSA records, efforts to obtain the records should be made upon remand.  38 U.S.C. § 5103A; 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(c)(2).
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1.  The AOJ should request that the Veteran provide the names and addresses of any and all health care providers who have provided treatment for his PTSD.
After acquiring this information and obtaining any necessary authorization, the AOJ should obtain and associate these records with the claims file.
The AOJ should also secure any outstanding, relevant VA medical records, to include records from the VA New Jersey Health Care System dated since July 2016.
2.  The AOJ should obtain a copy of any decision to grant or deny SSA benefits to the Veteran and the records upon which that decision was based and associate them with the claims file.  If the search for such records has negative results, the claims file should be properly documented as to the unavailability of those records.
3.  After completing the preceding development in paragraphs 1 and 2, the Veteran should be afforded a VA examination regarding the current severity and manifestations of his PTSD.  Any and all studies, tests, and evaluations deemed necessary by the examiner should be performed.  The examiner is requested to review all pertinent records associated with the claims file.
The Veteran is competent to attest to observable symptomatology.  If there is a medical basis to support or doubt the history provided by the Veteran, the examiner should provide a fully reasoned explanation.
The examiner should report all signs and symptoms necessary for rating the Veteran's disability under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.  The findings of the examiner should address the level of social and occupational impairment attributable to the Veteran's PTSD.
A clear rationale for all opinions would be helpful and a discussion of the facts and medical principles involved would be of considerable assistance to the Board.
 
GAYLE STROMMEN
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	K.C. Spragins, Associate Counsel