Citation Nr: 20004741
Decision Date: 01/23/20	Archive Date: 01/21/20

DOCKET NO. 18-50 109A
DATE: January 23, 2020

REMANDED

Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran had active service from June 1978 to June 1982.  

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an April 2018 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).

Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is remanded.

An April 2018 rating decision granted service connection for PTSD at 50 percent from January 18, 2018.  This appeal arises from the Veteran’s disagreement with the initial disability rating assigned.  He contends that a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is warranted.  He argues that PTSD symptoms interfere with his employment, and severely affects his marriage and social interactions. 

To ensure that VA has met its duty assist, remand is necessary to obtain relevant outstanding treatment records.  38 C.F.R. § 3.1599(c).  VA treatment records associated with the claims file reflect that the Veteran obtains mental health care through the VET Center.   See CAPRI (October 2019).  However, these records are not associated with the claims file.  Therefore, a remand is required to allow VA to obtain these records.  See Sullivan v. McDonald, 815 F.3d 786 (Fed. Cir. 2016)

Accordingly, the matter is REMANDED for the following action:

1. Obtain the Veteran’s VET Center treatment records.

2. Obtain the Veteran’s VA treatment records for the period from October 2019 to present.

 

C.A. SKOW

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	N. Pendleton, Associate Counsel

The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential, and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.