Citation Nr: 18153647
Decision Date: 11/28/18	Archive Date: 11/28/18

DOCKET NO. 16-53 266A
DATE:	November 28, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is remanded.
Entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Army from July 1987 to December 1987, with additional service in the National Guard and the Reserves. 
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an August 2015 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). 
The Board has recharacterized the Veteran’s PTSD claim as reflected on the title page, to ensure consideration of all diagnoses of record. Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1, 5 (2009).
1. Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded.
Remand is warranted for the Veteran’s claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.  No VA examination with opinion have been provided.  A March 2018 private DBQ with opinion has been provided.  This opinion lacks sufficient rationale supported by a factually accurate predicate.    Accordingly, a VA examination considering the relevant evidence of record is necessary.  See Barr v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 303, 312 (2007).  
2. Entitlement to a TDIU is remanded.
As the Veteran asserts that he is unemployable as a result of his psychiatric disorder, his entitlement to a TDIU is inextricably intertwined with the instant appeal and must be remanded as well.  See Harris v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 180, 183 (1991) (holding that where a claim is inextricably intertwined with another claim, the claims must be adjudicated together in order to enter a final decision on the matter).  Any outstanding VA and private treatment records should also be secured.
The matters are REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain any outstanding VA treatment records.
2. With any necessary assistance from the Veteran, obtain any outstanding relevant private treatment records, to include records from St. Charles County Department of Corrections, Missouri.  
3. Then schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.  All indicated tests and studies should be performed and all findings reported in detail.  
Following a review of the claims file, the examiner is asked to address the following:
(a)	Identify all acquired psychiatric disorders present since January 2015, to include PTSD, depression, and anxiety.  If any of the diagnoses are not warranted, please reconcile these findings with the diagnoses of the same in the March 2018 DBQ.
(b)	If a diagnosis of PTSD is warranted, specify the claimed in-service stressor(s) upon which that diagnosis is based.
(c)	If a diagnosis of PTSD is warranted, please opine as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran exhibited any behavioral changes during service that are reflective of the occurrence of an in-service assault.
(d)	For each psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, please opine as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that such disorder had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service. 
 
A complete rationale should be given for all opinions and conclusions expressed.  If the examiner is unable to render an opinion without resorting to speculation, he or she must provide a complete explanation for the reasoning underlying that conclusion.
 
Nathaniel J. Doan
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	S.S. Mahoney, Associate Counsel