Citation Nr: 18110760
Decision Date: 06/14/18	Archive Date: 06/13/18

DOCKET NO. 14-16 388
DATE:	June 14, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served from June 1974 to June 1976.  The Veteran attended a videoconference hearing before the undersigned in October 2017.
Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.
The Veteran is seeking entitlement to service connection for PTSD.  Specifically, the Veteran has asserted that he has experienced psychiatric symptoms since service.  The Board has expanded and recharacterized the Veteran’s claim as noted above.  See Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1 (2009) (the scope of a disability claim includes any disability that may reasonably be encompassed by the claimant’s description of the claim, reported symptoms, and the other information of record). 
More information is needed to allow the Board to make a fully-informed decision.  The Veteran’s medical treatment records reflect treatment for depressed mood, admitted hallucinations, paranoia, and dellusions.  The Veteran submitted a private physician opinion that references an appointment with a counseling psychologist in May 1977, less than a year after his discharge from service.  Additionally, while the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD, no examiner has opined whether the diagnosis is at least as likely as not related to an event that occurred during the Veteran’s period of service. Because there is insufficient evidence to decide the claim, the Veteran should be afforded VA examination to determine the nature of any psychiatric disorder and the relationship of such disorder to service.  See McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79, 83 (2006).  
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain all outstanding treatment records from the VA Medical Center in West Palm Beach, as well as from any VA facility or private provider from which the Veteran has received treatment.  
2. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, to include PTSD.  The claims folder must be made available to and be reviewed by the examiner.  All tests deemed necessary should be conducted and the results reported in detail.  
The examiner should identify all current psychiatric disorders found on examination.  For PTSD, the examiner must use the diagnostic criteria specified in the DSM-V.
For each diagnosed psychiatric disorder, the examiner must provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) that any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder is etiologically related to the Veteran’s period of service.
If PTSD is diagnosed, the examiner must specify the stressor(s) upon which the diagnosis was based. 
If the examiner cannot provide the requested opinion without resorting to mere speculation, he or she should provide a complete explanation stating why this is so.  In so doing, the examiner should explain whether the inability to provide a more definitive opinion is the result of a need for additional information or that he or she has exhausted the limits of current medical knowledge in providing an answer to that particular question(s).
 
B.T. KNOPE
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	E. Vample, Associate Counsel