Citation Nr: 18141558
Decision Date: 10/10/18	Archive Date: 10/10/18

DOCKET NO. 16-23 896
DATE:	October 10, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for generalized anxiety disorder is remanded.
Entitlement to service connection for obsessive compulsive disorder is remanded.
Entitlement to service connection for agoraphobia is remanded.
Entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from April 2006 to April 2010.
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal    from an August 2013 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).
The Veteran is seeking service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and agoraphobia. He is also seeking an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for his PTSD.
An August 2013 VA examination for PTSD concluded with a diagnosis of PTSD, with no other mental disorders diagnosed.  The examination report also noted, however, that the Veteran’s symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and agoraphobia are all related to his PTSD.  A review of the Veteran’s post service treatment reports list diagnoses of generalized anxiety disorder and rule out obsessive compulsive disorder. See McClain v. Nicholson,   21 Vet. App. 319 (2007) (holding that a current disability exists if the diagnosed disability is present at the time the claim is filed or during the pendency of the claim, even if the disability resolves prior to adjudication).  
Under these circumstances, an examination to clarify the Veteran’s current psychiatric diagnosis or diagnoses is needed.  
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 treated him during the course of this appeal for any psychiatric disorder.  After securing any necessary releases, request any relevant records identified. In addition, obtain updated VA treatment records.  If any requested records are unavailable, the Veteran should be notified of such.
2. After completion of the foregoing, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of his service-connected PTSD; and to identify any other psychiatric disorders other than PTSD found during the course of this appeal. The claims file must be reviewed by the examiner in conjunction with the examination.  All symptomatology and functional impairment associated with his PTSD should be reported.
Based on the clinical examination and review of the claims file, the examiner must respond to the following:
(a) The examiner must identify all current psychiatric disorders other than PTSD found.  In doing so, the examiner must consider the diagnoses in the post    service treatment records of generalized anxiety    disorder and rule out obsessive compulsive disorder.
(b)  For each psychiatric disorder other than PTSD identified, the examiner must provide an opinion            as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) etiologically related to his active service or to his service-connected PTSD. The examiner must explain why or why not.

 
K. A. BANFIELD
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	W. Yates, Counsel