Citation Nr: 18148435 Decision Date: 11/07/18 Archive Date: 11/07/18 DOCKET NO. 18-05 790 DATE: November 7, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol use disorder, and chronic adjustment disorder, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active military service from October 1985 to March 1995. This matter comes to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an April 2017 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In light of the multiple diagnoses of psychiatric disabilities of record, the Board has broadened the issue on appeal in accordance with the findings in Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1 (2009). The Board finds that additional evidentiary development is necessary regarding the Veteran’s service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran contends that he witnessed the deaths of Haitian civilians by Military Police while stationed in Haiti. Moreover, he contends that he saw and smelled burning bodies after a plane crash at Pope Air Force Base. His service treatment records do not show any treatment for psychiatric complaints. Post-service treatment records, show a history of treatment for “PTSD – combat related,” alcohol abuse, and chronic adjustment disorder. While a search has been conducted to attempt to verify the Veteran’s stressor with regard to an airplane accident at Pope Air Force Base, the AOJ has not attempted to verify the Veteran’s reported stressors with regard to his assertions during his service in Haiti. Therefore, attempts to verify the Veteran’s reported stressors should be made. If the Veteran’s in-service stressor is verified, the Veteran should be afforded a VA examination to determine whether he has a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, as a result of a verified in-service stressor and/or incident. Additionally, current treatment records should be identified and obtained before a decision is made in this case. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: 1. Identify and obtain any pertinent, outstanding VA and private treatment records and associate them with the claims file. 2. Undertake appropriate development to obtain additional details from the Veteran concerning his claimed stressors, to include the witnessing deaths of civilians in Haiti. The Veteran must be advised to submit any corroborating evidence in his possession regarding the claimed stressors, including statements of fellow service members. 3. Then, attempt to verify the stressors through official sources, including the U.S. Army and Joint Service Records Research Center (JSRRC), or other appropriate repositories of such information. All attempts to verify the reported stressors must be documented in the claims file. 4. If an in-service stressor is verified, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination with a psychologist or psychiatrist to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present psychiatric disability. The claims file must be made available to, and reviewed by the examiner. All indicated tests and studies must be performed. Based on the examination results and review of the record, the examiner should first identify all psychiatric disabilities present during the pendency of the claim, and proximate thereto. Then, for all identified disabilities, the examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that such disability had its onset during active service, or is otherwise etiologically related to such service. In forming the opinion, the examiner must consider the Veteran’s statements regarding the onset and continuity of his psychiatric symptoms. The rationale for all opinions expressed must be provided. 5. Confirm that all development conducted comports with this remand, and undertake any other development determined to be warranted. 6. Then, readjudicate the claim on appeal. If the decision is adverse to the Veteran, issue a supplemental statement of the case and allow appropriate time for response. Then, return the case to the Board. Kristin Haddock Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD Mariah N. Sim, Associate Counsel