Citation Nr: 18146538
Decision Date: 10/31/18	Archive Date: 10/31/18

DOCKET NO. 16-28 552
DATE:	October 31, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to military sexual trauma (MST), is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had active military service from August 1976 to May 1978.  The Board has expanded this claim to include all potential psychiatric disorders, per the order in Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1 (2009).
In October 2014, the Veteran underwent a VA PTSD examination.  The Board finds that this examination is not adequate for adjudicating the Veteran’s PTSD claim, as the examiner did not provide an opinion or rationale as to the etiology of the Veteran’s PTSD.  Therefore, a remand is necessary to request another VA examination.
During the Veteran’s October 2014 VA PTSD examination, he reported he had applied for Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits and was denied.  At present, there are no records from the SSA in the claims file, and there is no evidence to indicate that any attempts have been made by VA to obtain the Veteran’s records from SSA.  Because such records may be pertinent to the current claim, an attempt must be made to obtain these records on remand.  See Murincsak v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 363 (1992).
In addition, on remand, any outstanding VA treatment records, pertinent to a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, should also be obtained.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain updated VA treatment records from April 2016 to the present that are pertinent to a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.
2. Request and obtain from SSA all documents pertaining to any application by the Veteran for SSA disability benefits, including any decisions and/or determinations, and all supporting medical documentation utilized in rendering any decision or determination.  Any negative search result should be noted in the record and communicated to the Veteran.
3. After obtaining any outstanding records, schedule the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability, to include PTSD.  The claims file should be provided to the examiner for review and all indicated studies and tests should be performed.
(a)	The examiner should identify all psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.
(b)	For all psychiatric disorders diagnosed, the examiner should determine whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) related to active service or any incident of service, including claimed military sexual trauma. 
(c)	For the diagnosed PTSD, the examiner should determine whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran’s diagnosed PTSD is due to military sexual trauma in service.  
The examiner is requested to consider and discuss as necessary the relevant evidence, including the Veteran’s service records, and his statements regarding a personal assault during service.  The rationale for any opinion offered should be provided.
 
A. C. MACKENZIE
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	M. Young, Counsel