Citation Nr: 21030495
Decision Date: 05/19/21	Archive Date: 05/19/21

DOCKET NO. 18-43 376
DATE: May 19, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for other specified trauma or stressor related disorder (claimed as PTSD) is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from May 1965 to May 1969.

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a June 2017 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).

The Veteran testified at a hearing before the undersigned in May 2021. 

1. Entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for other specified trauma or stressor related disorder (claimed as PTSD) is remanded.

A remand is required for additional development. 

The Veteran was provided with a VA examination to evaluate his mental health in June 2017.  The examiner determined that the Veteran's mental condition was not severe enough to interfere with occupational or social functioning.  The Veteran reported during this examination that his symptoms were worsening.  In a later September 2017 correspondence, the Veteran's licensed clinical social worker stated that the Veteran had consistently been attending individual and group therapy and noted that the Veteran struggled with moderating his PTSD symptoms of explosive aggression, sleep disturbance, hypervigilance, and irritability. These documents indicate that the Veteran's psychological condition had worsened over time.  The Board also notes that the last mental health VA examination is nearly 4 years old, and the most recent treatment records are dated from 2017.  Finally, the Veteran testified at his hearing that his symptoms had worsened since his last VA examination.  

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Obtain any outstanding VA or private treatment records.  Request that the Veteran assist with locating these records, if possible.  Associate these records with the claims file.

2. Then, schedule a VA examination with an appropriate examiner to determine the current severity of the Veteran's other specified trauma or stressor related disorder (claimed as PTSD). 

 

 

H.M. WALKER

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	AK

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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.