Citation Nr: 18154083
Decision Date: 11/29/18	Archive Date: 11/28/18

DOCKET NO. 16-42 545
DATE:	November 29, 2018
REMANDED
Service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders (claimed as mental health issues) to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and anxiety is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from July 1967 to July 1971. He was offered an opportunity to testify before the Board but he declined. 
The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.  VA treatment notes indicate he is currently diagnosed with  acquired psychiatric disorders to include MDD and anxiety. The Board notes that VA October 2016 VA treatment notes referrence treatment and medication prescibed to the Veteran for PTSD signs and symptoms. In addition a July 2013 treatment note shows that the Veteran has a history of PTSD, although another treatment note shows a negative PTSD screening.  Therefore, it is unclear whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD under the DSM-5. As such, a remand is required in order for the Veteran to be afforded a PTSD VA examination and medical opinion. 
The Veteran believes that his acquired psychiatric disability is the result of a traumatic event in service in which he was on a plane that experienced left engine problems, which resulted in the Veteran jumping out of the plane while it was taxiing on the runway.  Reports of the engine trouble which occurred in May 1968 are documented in the Veteran’s claims file, and are consistent with the Veteran’s duty station at that time. 
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain the Veteran’s VA treatment records for the period from June 2015 to the present.
2.  Schedule the Veteran for a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disability.  The examiner should diagnose any acquired psychiatric disability, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The examiner should then opine as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater) that any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disability either began during or was otherwise caused by his military service.  Why or why not? If PTSD is diagnosed, the examiner should identify the stressor that forms the basis for the diagnosis. 
 
MATTHEW W. BLACKWELDER
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	M. Franklin, Associate Counsel