Citation Nr: 18154106 Decision Date: 11/29/18 Archive Date: 11/29/18 DOCKET NO. 16-18 826 DATE: November 29, 2018 REMANDED Service connection for a psychiatric disorder is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Army from June 1964 to June 1967, and received the Vietnam Service Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge among other decorations for this service. This matter comes before the Board of Veteran’s Appeals (the Board) from a September 2012 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office in Cleveland, Ohio. The Veteran testified at a hearing at the RO before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge of the Board via video conference in February 2017. A transcript of that hearing has been associated with the claims file. In characterizing the issues on appeal, the Board recognizes that when a claimant makes a claim, he is seeking service connection for symptoms regardless of how those symptoms are diagnosed or labeled. Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1 (2009). As the medical evidence of record indicates, the Veteran has a diagnosis of major depression; therefore, the issue of entitlement to service connection for PTSD has been recharacterized as entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, consistent with Clemons. The Veteran seeks service connection for PTSD due to various combat stressors he experienced while serving in Vietnam. The Veteran’s service personnel records and DD-214 show that he served in the Republic of Vietnam, and is the recipient of the Combat Infantryman Badge, Vietnam Service Medal, and Vietnam Campaign Medal. The Veteran reports combat related experiences, including landing in the middle of enemy fire and pulling his unit to safety, many of whom died. His duties in Vietnam included squad and platoon leader. The in-service stressor is established based on the Veteran’s combat medals, and his account of events that are consistent with the circumstances, conditions or hardships of such service. The Veteran must still satisfy the remaining element of service connection, whether there is a “nexus” or link between the in-service event or injury and the current diagnosed disability. 38 C.F.R. § 3.303 (a). In June 2012, the Veteran underwent a VA examination and was diagnosed with depressive disorder. The examiner found the Veteran’s depressive symptoms to be mild, and predominately related to financial stressors, with no causal link to his military experience. The examiner did not provide a rationale for this opinion. During a VA mental health consultation in April 2016, the psychologist noted the Veteran’s traumatic history, including his time in Vietnam and the grief of recently losing his wife of 48 years. The psychologist diagnosed depressive disorder but did not provide an opinion as to the relationship, if any, to service. Significantly, during the Board hearing the Veteran testified that he began noticing symptoms during his active service. Accordingly, remand is required to obtain VA medical addendum opinions to resolve the question of whether the Veteran’s major depressive disorder is caused by his military service. Although the Board regrets the additional delay, a remand is required Specifically, as noted above, the June 2012 examiner opined that the Veteran’s depression was not linked to service, but predominately based on recent financial stressors but did not provide an adequate rationale or address lay statements. Additionally, while the April 2016 psychologist diagnosed recurrent depressive disorder, no opinion was provided as to whether this condition was a result of military service, post-military factors, or both. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: Schedule the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran currently has PTSD. The Veteran’s claims file must be made available to and reviewed by the examiner. The examiner must conduct an examination using the DSM-V criteria. For each current psychiatric disorder identified, please provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (a probability of 50 percent or greater) that it arose in service or is otherwise etiologically related to the Veteran’s military service, including in-service stressors experienced by the combat Veteran. The examiner must discuss the lay testimony as to symptoms in service. (Continued on the next page)   A complete rationale for all opinions must be provided. If the examiner cannot provide an opinion without resorting to speculation, it is essential that the examiner explain why an opinion cannot be provided (i.e. lack of records, limits of medical knowledge, etc.). H. SEESEL Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD T. Russell, Associate Counsel