Citation Nr: 18157938 Decision Date: 12/13/18 Archive Date: 12/13/18 DOCKET NO. 14-42 992 DATE: December 13, 2018 REMANDED The issue of service connection for acquired disability, to include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic mild depressive disorder, or other mental disorder is remanded. The issue of an increased rating for service connection for left wrist degenerative arthritis is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The matter is REMANDED for the following action: 1. Request that the Veteran provide the names and addresses of all health care providers who provided treatment for PTSD, and left wrist degenerative arthritis disabilities. After acquiring this information and obtaining any necessary authorization, obtain and associate any pertinent records with the claims file or e-folder that have not been previously obtained. 2. After all available records have been associated with the claims file and/or e-folder, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine whether the Veteran has a mental disorder caused by military service, including but not limited to PTSD. The Veteran’s claims file, to include a copy of this Remand, should be made available to and reviewed by the examiner. The examination report should reflect that such review was accomplished. THE EXAMINER IS ADVISED THAT THE VETERAN SERVED IN COMBAT, AND HIS ACCOUNT OF COMBAT OCCURRENCES MUST BE PRESUMED CREDIBLE. As noted above, the examiner should review the record in conjunction with rendering the requested opinion; however, his/her attention is drawn to the following: (a.) The Veteran had a psychiatric examination in August 2018 when the psychologist diagnosed the Veteran with chronic mild depressive disorder, alcohol dependence, and other specified trauma disorder. The psychologist opined that the while Veteran does not meet the full criteria for PTSD, he met criteria for other specified trauma disorder. According to the psychologist, the specific trauma causing this disorder was his experiences in Vietnam. However, the examination is unclear in its conclusion. The examiner concluded that the Veteran “would benefit from ongoing psychotherapy and pharmacology for his depression and PTSD.” Thus, the diagnosis is unclear. (b.) The examiner must take a detailed history from the Veteran. If there is any clinical or medical basis for corroborating or discounting the credibility of the history provided by the Veteran, the examiner must so state, with a complete explanation in support of such a finding. (c.) The examiner must provide an opinion as to whether the Veteran has PTSD or any other mental disorder and if so, whether it was caused by any incident of military service. 2. Schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA orthopedic examination to evaluate the severity of the left wrist condition. All necessary tests, including X-ray examinations, should be conducted. The entire claims file, to include a complete copy of this Remand, must be made available to the examiner, and the report of the examination should note review of the file. (a.) As noted above, the examiner should review the record in conjunction with rendering the requested opinion; however, his/her attention is drawn to the following: (b.) The severity of the left wrist condition was last evaluated in a VA examination dated in March 2012. (c.) During the October 2017 hearing before the undersigned, the Veteran asserted that his left wrist condition had worsened in severity since he was last evaluated by VA. Specifically, he noted that he wore a brace on his left wrist and that he experienced intermittent symptoms of achiness and numb fingers while wearing the brace. He also stated that he had to reduce his working hours due to physical limitations of his left wrist condition, to especially include hindering his ability to write with his left hand. (d.) The examiner must take a detailed history from the Veteran. If there is any clinical or medical basis for corroborating or discounting the credibility of the history provided by the Veteran, the examiner must so state, with a complete explanation in support of such a finding. (Continued on the next page)   (e.) The examiner must specifically answer the question of whether the left wrist is ankylosed. 3. Thereafter, and after undertaking any additional development deemed necessary, readjudicate the issues on appeal. If the benefit sought on appeal remains denied, the Veteran and his representative must be provided with a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) and be afforded reasonable opportunity to respond. The case should then be returned to the Board for further appellate review, if otherwise in order. Vito A. Clementi Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD T. T. Emmart, Associate Counsel