Citation Nr: 21062259
Decision Date: 10/06/21	Archive Date: 10/06/21

DOCKET NO. 17-42 553
DATE: October 6, 2021

REMANDED

A rating higher than 30 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from February 1969 to February 1973.  This matter is before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from an April 2016 rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office.

In June 2019, the Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.  The Veteran timely appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court), and in an April 2021 Memorandum Decision, the Court set aside the June 2019 decision, and remanded the claim for further proceedings consistent with the Memorandum Decision.  Specifically, the Court found that the Board did not adequately address all evidence of record in discussing the impact of PTSD on reliability and productivity.   

The Veteran last underwent VA examination in March 2016.  In light of the Court's remand, the Board finds that a new VA examination should be obtained.

 

The matter is REMANDED for the following action:

1. Associate any pertinent VA or private medical records that are not already of record with the claims file.

2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of 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.  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 PTSD alone.

 

 

JOHN Z. JONES

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	H. Ahmad

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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.