Citation Nr: 21072216
Decision Date: 12/02/21	Archive Date: 12/02/21

DOCKET NO. 18-37 895
DATE: December 2, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to an increased rating for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from October 1974 to July 1975.  This issue comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a February 2017 rating decision by a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).  The Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in November 2019 and a transcript is of record.  The issue was previously before the Board in March 2020 when remanded for further development.

Entitlement to an increased rating for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.

In October 2021, the Veteran, through an authorized representative written brief presentation, asserted that the PTSD has increased in severity since the Veteran was last examined by VA for compensation and pension purposes in May 2020.  The Veteran should be provided an opportunity to report for a VA examination to ascertain the current severity and manifestations of PTSD.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Obtain any updated relevant VA and/or private treatment records to the extent possible.  If records are unavailable, the Veteran's claim file must be clearly documented, and the Veteran must be properly notified.

2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of the 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 service-connected psychiatric disorder alone.

 

 

G. A. WASIK

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	James Hekel

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  This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability.  38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.