Citation Nr: 21069084
Decision Date: 11/17/21	Archive Date: 11/17/21

DOCKET NO. 17-32 545
DATE: November 17, 2021

REMANDED

A rating higher than 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from August 2008 to January 2009 and from April 2011 to January 2012.

This matter is before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from an August 2016 rating decision.  

While further delay is regrettable, the Board finds that a more contemporaneous VA examination is required to properly assess the current severity of the disability. The Veteran was last afforded a VA examination in June 2016, more than five years ago.  Further, no VA medical records have been associated with the record since May 2017.  Therefore, remand is necessary to obtain updated records and a current examination.

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 a VA examination with an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of service-connected PTSD.  All pertinent symptomatology and findings must be reported in detail.  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 the Veteran's 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.