Citation Nr: 18154075
Decision Date: 11/29/18	Archive Date: 11/28/18

DOCKET NO. 16-36 234
DATE:	November 29, 2018
REMANDED
Service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.
 
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from February 1966 to February 1969.
The case is on appeal from a July 2015 rating decision.
Service connection for PTSD.
The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD.  In submitted statements, the Veteran asserts that he developed PTSD during active service due to the time when his unit was caught in an ambush in Vietnam and he overheard villagers screaming and burning to death from exposure to napalm and could see them being blown up.  The Veteran, who served as an engine equipment repairman, states these thoughts have stayed with him since his return from Vietnam.  See June 2015 Initial PTSD Disability Benefits Questionnaire; March 2015 VA Form 21-0781.  
Although the Veteran’s VA treatment records do not include a diagnosis of PTSD, they indicate a history of depression.  See September 2015 VA record.  The June 2015 VA examiner found that the criteria were not met for any mental disorder diagnosis, including PTSD.  However, the examiner stated that the Veteran’s experience in Vietnam serves as a stressor adequate to support a diagnosis of PTSD, and that the stressor was related to the Veterans fear of hostile military or terrorist activity.  In his July 2015 notice of disagreement (NOD) and July 2016 VA Form 9, the Veteran stated his dissatisfaction with the VA examination as he felt that the evaluation was not thorough or impartial.  
The Board finds that a remand is warranted to obtain a new VA examination and a comprehensive medical opinion, to include addressing whether the Veteran has a valid PTSD diagnosis based on an adequate stressor.  
In light of the remand, updated VA treatment records should be obtained.
Accordingly, the case is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain VA treatment records dated since January 2016.
2. Thereafter, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to address the current nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorders diagnosed.  
The examiner should first identify whether the Veteran has a current psychiatric disorder.  If PTSD is not diagnosed, it should be explained why this is so.
Then, for each identified psychiatric disorder, the examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (i.e., at least equally probable) that the disorder has its onset directly during the Veteran’s service, or is otherwise causally related to any event or circumstance of his service?
If PTSD is diagnosed, the examiner should identify the stressor(s) upon which the diagnosis is based.
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The examiner must provide a complete rationale for the opinion expressed.
 
RYAN T. KESSEL
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	S. Becton, Law Clerk