Citation Nr: 18154728
Decision Date: 11/30/18	Archive Date: 11/30/18

DOCKET NO. 16-01 175
DATE:	November 30, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had active service from October 1966 to October 1968.
The Veteran contends that he suffers from a psychiatric disorder related to his service, specifically when his unit was called to handle riot control in Chicago in April 1968 and August 1968 following political events. A search by the Defense Personnel Records Information Retrieval System found that the unit to which the Veteran’s unit was attached did participate in riot control in Chicago during this period, verifying his stressor. To date, a VA examination has not been obtained to determine whether the Veteran’s current psychiatric disorders, currently diagnosed as a social phobia and anxiety disorder, as well as rule out PTSD, are etiologically related to the Veteran’s reported service stressors.



The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
Schedule the Veteran for a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  If the Veteran is diagnosed with PTSD, the examiner must explain how the diagnostic criteria are met and opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to a verified in-service stressor (participation in riot control in Chicago in 1968).  
If any other acquired psychiatric disorders are diagnosed, the examiner must opine whether each diagnosed disorder is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, to include participation in riot control following the politically charged events that occurred in Chicago in April 1968 and August 1968.
 
M.E. Larkin
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	R. Erdheim, Counsel