Citation Nr: 18151895
Decision Date: 11/20/18	Archive Date: 11/20/18

DOCKET NO. 11-32 430
DATE:	November 20, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, other than posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had active service from May 1969 to December 1971. The Board previously denied the claim in a May 2017 decision, which the Veteran appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court).  In March 2018, the Court granted the parties Joint Motion for Remand.
The Veteran contends that his current psychiatric disorders, namely anxiety and depression, are etiologically related to stressors in service, to include exposure to combat while serving in Vietnam. A new VA examination and opinion is necessary. The last VA examination, dated in 2015, as well as the VA examination prior to that, dated in August 2013, determined that the Veteran did not suffer from a diagnosable psychiatric disorder. However, as indicated by the March 2018 Joint Motion, the Veteran has been diagnosed with other psychiatric disorders, to include depression and anxiety, both at the VA and privately. Most recently, an October 2018 private psychological assessment conducted via phone interview diagnosed major depressive disorder and an anxiety disorder. Therefore, clarification is necessary. The Board notes that the issue of entitlement to service connection for PTSD has already been denied and that decision is final.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety and depression, and to specifically EXCLUDE PTSD. The examiner must opine whether any diagnosed psychiatric disorder is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, including exposure to mortar and rocket attacks while serving in Vietnam and a possible physical assault. If the examiner finds no evidence of a diagnosable psychiatric disorder, the examiner should discuss that finding in the context of the other diagnoses of depression and anxiety documented in the VA and private treatment records, to include the August 2013, March 2015, and March 2018 psychiatric evaluations. 
  
M.E. Larkin
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	R. Erdheim, Counsel