Citation Nr: 18157558
Decision Date: 12/13/18	Archive Date: 12/12/18

DOCKET NO. 16-56 658
DATE:	December 13, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder with sleep and anxiety symptoms (MDD) is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from August 1963 to October 1966.
Entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder with sleep and anxiety symptoms (MDD) is remanded.
The Veteran seeks a rating in excess of 30 percent for his MDD.
When a claimant asserts that the severity of a disability has increased since the most recent VA examination, an additional examination may be required.  See Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400 (1997); Caffrey v. Brown, 6 Vet. App. 377 (1994).  Here, the Veteran stated in November 2012 that his sleep disturbances and panic attacks, two hallmarks of the next-highest 50 percent rating, had begun to worsen.  In August 2014, the Veteran submitted a Notice of Disagreement indicating that his symptoms had worsened since his May 2013 examination.  While the Veteran’s June 2016 records indicate many positive symptoms, he also reported sleeping problems and mood disturbances, such as irritability and anxiety.  Especially since he had begun to experience an increase in the frequency of feelings of panic six months prior to his most recent May 2013 examination, a more in-depth inquiry is required to assess the current nature and severity of the Veteran’s psychiatric disorder.  
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain all treatment records in the possession of the VA Medical Center in Orlando, FL, as well as any other VA facility at which the Veteran has received treatment.
If the Veteran has received additional private treatment records, he should be afforded an appropriate opportunity to submit them.
2. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to obtain medical findings concerning the current severity of the Veteran’s service connected MDD.  The claims folder must be made available to and be reviewed by the examiner.  All tests deemed necessary should be conducted and the results reported in detail.  The examiner should identify all current psychiatric disorders found on examination, including PTSD and major depressive disorder.  
3. Specifically, the VA examiner is asked to:
(a) Discuss in detail all reported symptoms of the Veteran’s psychiatric disability, including, but not limited to, his reports of panic attacks, sleep disturbances including nightmares, and inability to perform any activities of daily life.  
(b) Discuss the extent of any functional impairment caused by the service-connected MDD that impairs his ability to perform occupational tasks.
 
B.T. KNOPE
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Z. Maskatia, Associate Counsel