Citation Nr: 20005734 Decision Date: 01/23/20 Archive Date: 01/23/20 DOCKET NO. 15-32 129 DATE: January 23, 2020 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active military service from September 1966 to July 1970. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an October 2014 rating decision of a VA Regional Office (RO). Lastly, with respect to this appeal, the Veteran submitted a form in July 2018 opting to participate in the Rapid Appeals Modernization Process (RAMP). However, the claim discussed herein is not eligible for RAMP because it was already activated at the Board at the time the Veteran submitted his opt-in form. The Veteran asserts that he has incurred PTSD as a result of his active service. In accordance with Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1, 4-5 (2009), and in order to assist the Veteran, the Board has restyled the appeal for PTSD as service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. During the Veteran’s August 2014 VA examination for PTSD, the VA examiner opined that while the Veteran did not meet the diagnostic criteria for a PTSD diagnosis, he did meet the criteria for diagnosis of Other Specified Trauma and stressor related disorder. Furthermore, the VA examiner stated this condition was related to the Veteran’s fear of hostile foreign military activity. However, the examiner did not provide an detailed etiology opinion. In a March 2017 statement, the Veteran argued that no attempt had been made to verify the stressors he had described during his examination or September 2015 statement in support of his claim for PTSD. The Boards find no evidence that the RO attempted to verify the Veteran’s asserted stressor. Accordingly, this claim must be remanded for stressor verification and so that the Veteran can be afforded a new VA examination. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Make efforts to obtain all outstanding medical records in accordance with the duties set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(c). 2. Take appropriate action to verify the reported July 1969 stressor reported by the Veteran in his September 2015 Statements in Support of Claim. Document the claims file accordingly. 3. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination, with a psychiatrist or psychologist, with regard to his claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The examiner should review the file. The examiner should also discuss the Veteran’s military and medical history, and current complaints and symptoms, with the Veteran and document the Veteran’s assertions in the examination report. All opinions must be supported by a rationale. (a.) The examiner should identify the Veteran’s current psychiatric disorder(s), including whether he meets the criteria for PTSD. If PTSD is not diagnosed, it should be explained why this is so. (b.) For each identified psychiatric disorder, the examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) that the disorder began during active duty or is related to any incident/event of active duty. (c.) If PTSD is present, the examiner is requested to identify the stressor(s) that support the diagnosis. A. C. MACKENZIE Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board E. Hicks, Associate Counsel The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.