Citation Nr: 18155321
Decision Date: 12/04/18	Archive Date: 12/03/18

DOCKET NO. 18-30 243
DATE:	December 4, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for acquired psychiatric condition, claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from July 1953 to May 1956.
This appeal comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from an August 2016 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Oakland, California. 
He testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge during a November 27, 2018 video conference hearing. The transcript from the hearing has not yet been associated with the file, as the case is being remanded under the Board's “One Touch” program. The hearing transcript will still be processed and associated with the claims file in the ordinary course of business
1. Entitlement to service connection for acquired psychiatric condition, claimed as PTSD is remanded.
The Veteran reports that he has experienced depressive and other symptoms since service. He also asserts that these symptoms are the results of several in-service stressors, including a basic training incident where he thought he would be hit by a tank, a jeep accident in Japan, and a flight to Japan where the aircraft lost an engine in flight resulting in the Veteran fearing for his life. The Veteran’s service treatment records are silent for any psychiatric complaints or treatment. Currently, the Veteran’s treatment records show a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). However, the Veteran’s treatment records from the San Jose Veteran’s Center indicate treatment for symptoms of PTSD. The Board finds that a VA examination is necessary to determine whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of a psychiatric condition, and whether any diagnosed condition is related to service, to include the claimed in-service stressors. 
Accordingly, remand is appropriate in order to obtain a medical opinion.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain the Veteran's updated VA treatment records, as well as complete records from the San Jose Veteran’s Center.
2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to identify any acquired psychiatric disorders, to include major depressive disorder and PTSD. 
If the Veteran is diagnosed with PTSD, the examiner must explain fully explain the stressor(s) supporting the diagnosis. 
For each disorder other than PTSD identified (including the diagnosed major depressive disorder), the examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, including the Veteran’s claim of inservice stressors, including an experience on a plane which had an in-flight emergency and lost an engine over the Pacific Ocean and fear of being run over by a tank during basic training which the examiner should accept as true although not documented.  The examiner may rely on the Board’s factual finding that the Veteran’s most credible recollections is his denial of having had or having symptoms of frequent trouble sleeping, depression or excessive worry, frequent terrifying nightmares, nervous trouble of any sort and excessive drinking habit upon separation in May 1956. 
The examiner is advised that the Veteran’s records include Veteran Center records indicating treatment for symptoms of PTSD, and VA treatment records indicating a diagnosis of MDD. The examiner is asked to specifically address these findings with a supporting rationale in the requested medical opinion.

 
T. MAINELLI
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Michael J. O'Connor