Citation Nr: 21000737 Decision Date: 01/06/21 Archive Date: 01/06/21 DOCKET NO. 17-61 696 DATE: January 6, 2021 REMANDED A rating higher than 50 percent for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder (hereinafter psychiatric disability) is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served honorably on active duty in the United States Army from January 2003 to January 2007. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a March 2017 rating decision issued by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran attended a virtual hearing before the undersigned in June 2020. At her June 2020 hearing, the Veteran testified that her psychiatric disability has worsened since her last VA examination. The Veteran’s last VA examination was in March 2017. The Veteran also testified that her diagnosed psychiatric disability should be posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A remand is necessary to obtain a new VA examination and for a VA examiner to clarify the Veteran’s current diagnosis.   The matter is REMANDED for the following actions: 1. Obtain the Veteran’s VA treatment records for the period from May 2017 to the Present. 2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of his service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder. 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. The examiner must attempt to elicit information regarding the severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms. To the extent possible, the examiner should identify any symptoms and social and occupational impairment due to her service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder alone. The examiner is also to clarify the Veteran’s current diagnosis and determine if her service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder meets the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD. JOHN Z. JONES Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Michael Chandeck, 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.