Citation Nr: 18148810
Decision Date: 11/08/18	Archive Date: 11/08/18

DOCKET NO. 16-41 772
DATE:	November 8, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The appellant is a Veteran who served on active duty from July 1991 to July 1995.  This matter is before the Board on appeal from an August 2014 rating decision. 
Entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is remanded.
In his August 2016 substantive appeal, the Veteran stated that he has outstanding private treatment records dating back to 1998 (approximately 3 years after his separation from service) from Group Health Cooperative, Allenmore Psychological Associates, Molly Staley, and Judith Provasoli, for which he submitted authorization and release forms with his service connection claim, in July 2013.  On review of the claims file, it appears that the AOJ indeed did not attempt to obtain records from these providers.  A remand to obtain these outstanding private treatment records is necesary.  Upon receipt of such records, development to determine whether the Veteran has a diagnosis of PTSD based on a corroborated stressor event in service, or another psychiatric disability etiologically related to service, is necessary. 
The matter is REMANDED for the following:
1.  Ask the Veteran to complete VA Forms 21-4142 for all private providers of mental health treatment he has received, in particular Group Health Cooperative, Allenmore Psychological Associates, Molly Staley, and Judith Provasoli.  Obtain such records.
2.  After the treatment records are received, arrange for the Veteran to be examined by an appropriate VA psychologist or psychiatrist to determine whether he has a diagnosis of PTSD based on a corroborated stressor event in service, and to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability other than PTSD found.  The examiner should be advised of what alleged stressor event in service, if any, has been found to be corroborated.  The Veteran’s record (to include this remand) must be reviewed by the examiner in conjunction with the examination.  On a review of the record and evaluation/interview of the Veteran, the examiner should respond to the following:
(a.)  Identify (by diagnosis) each psychiatric disability entity found or diagnosed during the pendency of this appeal.  Specifically, does the Veteran have a diagnosis of PTSD related to a verified stressor event in service (if so, the stressor event must be identified)?  If an acquired psychiatric disability is not diagnosed, please reconcile that conclusion with the medical evidence in the record suggesting otherwise.
(b.) Identify the likely etiology for each acquired psychiatric disability entity other than PTSD diagnosed, to include depressive disorder and anxiety disorder.  Is it at least as likely as not (a 50% or better probability) that such disability (1) began during the Veteran’s active service, (2) (if a psychosis) was manifested within one year after discharge from service, (3) was noted during service with continuity of symptoms since, or (4) is otherwise etiologically related to service?
The examiner must include rationale with all opinions.
 
GEORGE R. SENYK
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	D. Schechner, Counsel