Citation Nr: 21014793 Decision Date: 03/15/21 Archive Date: 03/15/21 DOCKET NO. 20-05 358 DATE: March 15, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), prior to August 23, 2018, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps from September 1966 to September 1969. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a June 2015 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO), which granted service connection for PTSD, rated 30 percent disabling, effective December 28, 2011. In a November 2018 Decision Review Officer (DRO) decision issued during the pendency of the appeal, a 100 percent rating was assigned effective August 23, 2018. As the DRO decision represents a grant of the maximum possible benefit as of August 23, 2018, the appeal is satisfied from that date forward. The Veteran has clearly indicated that he wishes to continue his appeal for a higher evaluation prior to that date. AB v. Brown, 6 Vet. App. 35 (1993). The Veteran testified at a January 2021 virtual hearing before the Board; a transcript of that hearing is associated with the claims file. In a July 2016 claim, the Veteran indicated that he had received VA medical center (VAMC) treatment for PTSD from January 2006 to June 2016. Additionally, Vet Center records as well as the Veteran’s January 2021 testimony imply that the Veteran received VAMC treatment in 2010 or 2011, or potentially earlier. Unfortunately, there is a single record from July 2005 (followed by a May 2012 VA examination) and then the next VAMC record is dated November 2014. The Veteran’s complete VA records must be associated with the claims file on remand. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: Obtain the Veteran’s complete VA treatment records from the West Palm Beach VAMC and all associated clinics, as well as any other VA facility identified by the Veteran or in the record, for the period from January 2006, to September 2018. WILLIAM H. DONNELLY Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board W. Ripplinger, 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.