Citation Nr: 18106978
Decision Date: 06/01/18	Archive Date: 05/31/18

DOCKET NO. 15-31 559
DATE:	June 1, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent disabling for service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.
Entitlement to a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from January 1967 to December 1968.
In May 2018, the Veteran testified at a video conference hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge.
1. Entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent disabling for service-connected PTSD is remanded.
The Board finds that additional development is needed prior to final adjudication of the issues on appeal.  Specifically, the Board finds that a new examination is needed to address the Veteran’s service-connected PTSD.  The Veteran was afforded a VA examination in April 2014; however, at the May 2018 hearing, he indicated that his symptoms have worsened.  Under these circumstances, VA cannot rate the service-connected disability without further medical clarification.  Hence, the Veteran is entitled to a new VA examination.  See, e.g., Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400 (1997); Caffrey v. Brown, 6 Vet. App. 377 (1994); VAOPGCPREC 11-95 (1995).
2. Entitlement to a TDIU is remanded.
In addition, the Board finds that this issue of TDIU is inextricably intertwined with the issue of an increased rating for PTSD.  Therefore, the Board will defer adjudication of the TDIU pending re-evaluation of the Veteran’s service-connected PTSD disability
The matters are REMANDED for the following action:
1. After securing any necessary consent forms from the Veteran, obtain any outstanding treatment records, to include any VA and/or private treatment records, pertaining to the issues on appeal.
2. Upon completion of the above, schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of his service-connected PTSD.  The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms necessary for evaluating the Veteran’s disability under the rating criteria.  To the extent possible, the examiner should identify any symptoms and functional impairments due to PTSD alone and discuss the effect of the Veteran’s PTSD on any occupational functioning and activities of daily living.  
 
3. If upon completion of the above action the issues are denied, the case should be returned to the Board after compliance with appellate procedures.
 
E. I. VELEZ
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	K. Foster, Associate Counsel