Citation Nr: 20031703
Decision Date: 05/06/20	Archive Date: 05/06/20

DOCKET NO. 19-06 178
DATE: May 6, 2020

REMANDED

Entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for a psychiatric disability is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran had active service from August 2003 to July 2007.  

Claims for increased ratings for a psychiatric disability and residuals of heat stroke were denied in an August 2016 rating decision.  The Veteran submitted a timely notice of disagreement with the denial of the claims for increased rating, and a statement of the case was issued in December 2018.  In February 2019, the Veteran submitted a timely VA form 9 solely on the issue of increased rating for the psychiatric disability.  

In February 2019, the Veteran reported “new” symptoms of impairment of short-term memory and panic attacks more than once a week that suggest a possible worsening of the psychiatric disability since the 2016 VA examination.  The Board finds the record would benefit if the Veteran underwent another VA examination to determine the current severity of the psychiatric disability.  

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

Afford the Veteran a VA examination by an examiner with sufficient expertise to fully assess the Veteran’s service-connected psychiatric disability.  The examiner must provide a complete rationale for all proffered opinions. 

 

 

T. REYNOLDS

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	N. Snyder, 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.