Citation Nr: 18123792 Decision Date: 08/06/18 Archive Date: 08/03/18 DOCKET NO. 14-27 608 DATE: August 6, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The appellant is a Veteran who served on active duty in the Navy from September 1945 to July 1949 and in the Air Force from September 1951 to January 1968. This matter is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a June 2011 rating decision. In the July 2014 Form 9 the Veteran requested a Travel Board hearing. October 2017 correspondence notified the Veteran that a Travel Board hearing was scheduled for November 2017. He did not appear at the scheduled Travel Board hearing or respond the notice (with indication of good cause for the failure to appear. Accordingly, his hearing request is deemed withdrawn See 38 C.F.R. § 20.704(d). Entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, claimed as PTSD, is remanded. The Veteran’s service encompassed 3 periods of war (World War II, Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam Era. While his VA record before the Board does not include a DD Form-214, the Originating Agency has apparently acknowledged (or conceded) that he served in combat (he has reported dreams relating to combat experiences). Service connection for PTSD has been denied essentially on the basis that PTSD was not diagnosed. That determination was made based on an October 2010 VA examiner’s opinion that while displayed or reported some symptoms of PTSD, he did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of the disorder (but did not specifically indicate what criteria necessary for such diagnosis were found lacking). The Veteran contends that his full VA medical record was not properly considered at the October 2010 VA examination. The examination report notes that the Veteran had not received recent mental health treatment; however, a July 2010 primary care record notes that he was being treated for PTSD symptoms. Thus, the opinion offered appears based on an incomplete review of the record. The examiner also offered what appear to be conflicting opinions, on the one hand indicating that the Veteran did not have impairment due to mental disability, on the other hand indicating that he had a mental health disorder controlled by continuous medication (suggesting that he had a diagnosis of, and was being treated for a psychiatric disability -contradicting an earlier notation that he had not received recent treatment for a psychiatric disability). The Board finds that the examination and opinion offered are inadequate for rating purposes, and that another adequate VA examination is necessary. Records of the Veteran’s psychiatric treatment in the claims file are incomplete, and have not been updated (they do not show the treatment underlying his noted prescriptions of medication to control psychiatric symptoms). All outstanding records his private evaluations and treatment for psychiatric complaints are pertinent evidence that must be secured. The matter is REMANDED for the following: 1. Ask the Veteran to identify all providers of evaluations or treatment he received for psychiatric disability, and submit authorizations for VA to secure pertinent records from all private providers identified. Obtain for the record complete clinical records of the evaluations and treatment from all providers identified (and records not already associated with the claims file, and specifically indicating records pertaining to the evaluations when prescriptions for medication he takes to control psychiatric symptoms were made). 2. Then arrange for the Veteran to be examined by a psychologist of psychiatrist to determine the nature and likely etiology of his psychiatric disability. The entire record must be reviewed by the examiner in conjunction with the examination, and the examiner should note that VA has apparently acknowledged that the Veteran served in combat. On examination/interview of the Veteran and review of his record, the examiner should respond to the following: (a.) Identify (by diagnosis) each psychiatric disability found or shown during the pendency of the claim. Specifically, does the Veteran have a diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-V? If not, please identify the criteria necessary for such diagnosis found lacking, and reconcile the finding with any records receive which document he is receiving treatment for PTSD/PTSD symptoms. (b.) Identify the likely etiology for any psychiatric disability entity other than PTSD diagnosed. Specifically, is it at least as likely as not (a 50% or greater probability) that such disability is etiologically related to the Veteran’s service (was incurred therein) or was caused or aggravated by his service connected, tinnitus, hearing loss, acne, and right wrist disabilities ? All opinions must include rationale. GEORGE R. SENYK Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD N. Staskowski, Associate Counsel