Citation Nr: 18153079
Decision Date: 11/28/18	Archive Date: 11/27/18

DOCKET NO. 15-03 941
DATE:	November 28, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection due to an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had active service from July 1966 to December 1969.
Another VA medical opinion is needed before the Board can decide the claim.  
A February 2014 VA examination noted the Veteran did not have PTSD but rather adjustment disorder with depressed mood which the Veteran stated began two or three years ago. VA treatment records include diagnoses of anxiety and major depressive disorder. The VA examination is inadequate because the examiner did not appear to consider the Veteran's history, specifically a diagnosis in service. 
Service treatment records include a July 1969 neuropsychiatric evaluation which diagnosed allergic condition with psychiatric overlay and sequelae. In a July 1970 rating decision, service connection was granted for allergic rhinitis with psychiatric overlay.  On remand, it should be determined whether the Veteran has a separately diagnosed psychiatric disability that is related to service and should be separately service connected.
In subsequent appeals, applications, and statements to the RO, the Veteran notes his psychiatric conditions began in service after witnessing dead bodies in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) and almost firing upon a fellow service member during a defensive campaign in the RVN. He states that his current symptoms are like the symptoms he had in service soon before he was discharged. See February 2017 stressor statement.
To date, no action has been taken to attempt to verify the Veteran’s claimed stressor.  That must be conducted prior to the examination.  
Additional treatment records added to the file since the October 2014 statement of the case must be considered on remand. 
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Attempt to corroborate the Veteran’s in-service stressors, as reported in his February 2017 statement.  If more details are needed, contact the Veteran to request the information.
2. After completion of the foregoing, schedule the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination by an appropriate VA examiner to determine the nature and likely etiology of any psychiatric condition diagnosed since May 2013. 
Prior to the examination, the RO must inform the examiner whether a specific stressor has been confirmed. 
The complete record must be made available to the examiner for review. Based on the examination and review of the record, the examiner should provide opinions to the following questions:
(a) Identify all psychiatric disabilities diagnosed since May 2013. 
(b) If PTSD is diagnosed, is it at least as likely as not (i.e., probability of 50 percent or more) that it is related to a specific stressor identified by the RO? 
 (c) For any diagnosed psychiatric conditions other than PTSD, is it at least as likely as not (i.e., probability of 50 percent or more) that any diagnosed condition had its onset in service or is otherwise related to the Veteran’s service, to include the diagnosis in July 1969 of “allergic condition with psychiatric overlay?”
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Any opinions must be accompanied by a complete rationale. If the examiner is unable to reach an opinion without resort to speculation, he or she should explain the reasons for this inability.
3. After the above development, and any additionally indicated development, has been completed, readjudicate the issue on appeal, with specific consideration of all evidence added to the file since the October 2014 SOC.
 
M.E. Larkin
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Marrazza, K., Associate Counsel