Citation Nr: 21023672
Decision Date: 04/21/21	Archive Date: 04/21/21

DOCKET NO. 16-19 799
DATE: April 21, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a rating decision by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).

The Veteran was last provided a VA examination for his service-connected psychiatric disability in February 2015. Subsequently, the Veteran submitted additional evidence, to include statements from a medical doctor and a social worker indicating that the disability has undergone an increase in severity since last examination. 

The Board finds that this evidence does not provide all the evidence necessary to provide a rating but does raise the duty to assist in obtaining a new examination. 

The matter is REMANDED for the following action:

1. Obtain updated VA treatment records.

2. Thereafter, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to evaluate the current severity of the service-connected psychiatric disability. The examiner should review the record, to include prior VA examinations and the letter from a medical doctor dated April 20, 2016 and the April 27, 2016 statement from a Social Worker.

 

 

Nathaniel J. Doan

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	S. Ottley III

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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.