Citation Nr: 21062910
Decision Date: 10/12/21	Archive Date: 10/12/21

DOCKET NO. 17-49 109
DATE: October 12, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to an increased disability rating in excess of 50 percent prior to May 24, 2017 and 70 percent thereafter for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.  

REASONS FOR REMAND

Having reviewed the record, the Board finds remand is warranted.  During the July 2021 hearing, the Veteran endorsed a worsening of symptoms, to include new symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions.  Additionally, the Veteran indicated that there may be outstanding private mental health treatment records from counselor R.O.  Accordingly, remand is warranted for an examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD, as well as an attempt to obtain any outstanding private treatment records from counselor R.O.  

Any outstanding VA treatment records relevant to the claim from July 2019 to present should be obtained and associated with the claims file.  

The matters are REMANDED for the following actions:

1. Ask the Veteran to complete a VA Form 21-4142 for counselor R.O.  Make two requests for the authorized records, unless it is clear after the first request that a second request would be futile.

2. Obtain the Veteran's VA treatment records for the period from July 2019 to present. 

3. 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.  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 his PTSD alone.

 

 

TANYA SMITH

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.