Citation Nr: 22012129
Decision Date: 03/02/22	Archive Date: 03/02/22

DOCKET NO. 17-23 722
DATE: March 2, 2022

REMANDED

Entitlement to a rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from July 1977 to July 1981 and from November 1983 to May 1994. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a June 2014 rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).

Entitlement to a rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder 

The Veteran's most recent VA examination for his major depressive disorder was conducted in June 2014, almost eight years ago.  In August 2015, the Veteran asserted that his major depressive disorder should be evaluated higher than the current 70 percent evaluation.  Additionally, the Board notes that the most recent treatment records are from March 2017.  Under these circumstances, updated treatment records should be requested, and new examination scheduled to determine the current severity of his condition.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Ask the Veteran to provide the names and addresses of all medical care providers who have recently treated his major depressive disorder.  After securing any necessary releases, request any relevant records identified that      are not duplicates of those in the record. Updated VA treatment records should also be obtained, to include treatment records since March 2017. If any requested records are unavailable, the claims file should be annotated to reflect such and the Veteran should be notified of such.

2. Schedule the Veteran for a VA mental disorder examination to address the current severity of his major depressive disorder. The claims file must be reviewed by the examiner. Any indicated tests and studies should be accomplished and the results reported.

 

 

K. A. BANFIELD

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	A. Asare, Associate 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.