Citation Nr: 18145100
Decision Date: 10/26/18	Archive Date: 10/26/18

DOCKET NO. 16-28 728
DATE:	October 26, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, anxiety disorder, and mood disorder is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from June 1973 to June 1977.
The Veteran asserts that his acquired psychiatric disorder is due to military service.  In May 2015, the Veteran filed a claim for entitlement to service connection for PTSD.  In an April 2016 rating decision denying the claim, the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) noted that the Veteran had not being diagnosed with PTSD diagnosis.  In his June 2016 Substantive Appeal, the Veteran, through his representative, requested the AOJ widen the scope of the claim to an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety, mood disorders, and schizophrenia.  In support of his claim, the Veteran submitted an article.  Paraphrasing parts of the article, the Veteran noted that in the case of “schizophrenia, the prodrome stage, or early signs of illness, can last for weeks to years bringing in to question whether any behaviors noted in the Veteran’s military records, to include the fight which injured his hand, were related to his later diagnosed schizophrenia.”  
The Board notes that the Veteran has been diagnosed with paranoid type schizophrenia, mood disorder NOS, anxiety, and adult antisocial behavior.  Additionally, the Veteran’s service treatment records note that during service, the Veteran was involved in a scuffle and injured his finger.  However, the Veteran has not been afforded a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorder.  See McClendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006).  Therefore, the issue is remanded to afford the Veteran a VA examination and medical nexus opinion.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1.   Obtain and associate with the claims file all updated treatment records.
2.   Contact the Veteran and request that he identify all private providers who have treated him for his psychiatric disorder.  After obtaining authorization, obtain all outstanding, non-duplicative records.  If the records are unavailable, document the claims file and notify the Veteran in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(e).
3.   Schedule a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s psychiatric disorder.  The complete record, to include a copy of this remand and the claims folder, must be made available to and reviewed by the examiner in conjunction with the examination.  The examination report must include a notation that this record review took place.  
Based on a review of the entire record, the examiner should respond to the following:
i.  Identify any current psychiatric disorder.
ii.  Determine if it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) that any psychiatric disorder had its onset during active service or is etiologically related to the Veteran’s active duty service, to include the in-service scuffle that injured his finger? 
iii.  If PTSD is diagnosed, is it at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or better probability) that such disability is related to the Veteran’s service, to include his reported stressor?
The supporting rationale for all opinions expressed must be provided.  The examiner should consider the Veteran’s lay statements.
4.  Then, readjudicate the issue on appeal.  If the benefit sought on appeal remains denied, furnish the Veteran and his representative a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) and afford them the opportunity to respond before the file is returned to the Board for further consideration.
 
MICHAEL LANE
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	T. Henry, Associate Counsel