Citation Nr: 21041922
Decision Date: 07/10/21	Archive Date: 07/10/21

DOCKET NO. 16-37 450
DATE: July 10, 2021

REMANDED

An evaluation higher than 30 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from June 1966 to January 1970 and from June 1970 to April 1972.

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a December 2015 rating decision.  

An evaluation higher than 30 percent for PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran was last afforded a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD in December 2015.  In a January 2016 statement, the Veteran states he has experienced problems with past employment, social interaction, reduced reliability, a flattened affect, relations with family and friends, and anxiety.  He states these problems have reduced 75% of his activities.  Since there is an indication his symptoms may have increased in severity and to ensure the record reflects the current severity of his service-connected PTSD on appeal, a more contemporaneous examination is warranted.  See Caffrey v. Brown, 6 Vet. App. 377, 381 (1994) (determining that Board should have ordered contemporaneous examination of Veteran because a 23-month old exam was too remote in time to adequately support the decision in an appeal for an increased rating); Green v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 121, 124 (1991) (holding that where the record does not adequately reveal the current state of that disability, the fulfillment of the statutory duty to assist requires a thorough and contemporaneous medical examination).

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Obtain the Veteran's VA treatment records dated from January 2019 forward.

2. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims file, including a copy of this REMAND, must be made available to and reviewed by the examiner in conjunction with the examination.  The examiner must note in the examination report that the evidence in the claims file has been reviewed.

The appropriate Disability Benefits Questionnaire should be filled out.  

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The examiner should describe the severity, frequency, and duration of all symptoms associated with the Veteran's PTSD.

The examiner must provide a comprehensive report that includes a complete rationale for all opinions and conclusions reached.

 

 

P. M. DILORENZO

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	Denton, Buck

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.