Citation Nr: 20023975 Decision Date: 04/07/20 Archive Date: 04/07/20 DOCKET NO. 14-38 352 DATE: April 7, 2020 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served in the U.S. Army from January 1973 to January 1976. Private treatment records from February 2018 indicate that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD with symptoms of moderate depression. The Veteran asserts that in-service events caused or contributed to his current psychiatric disorder. To afford the Veteran the broadest possible scope for his claim of entitlement to a psychiatric disorder, the issue has been recharacterized accordingly to that of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1,6 (2009). To date, the Veteran has not been provided a VA examination to address his service connection claim. VA has a duty to provide a VA examination when the record lacks evidence to decide the veteran’s claim and there is evidence of (1) a current disability, (2) an in-service event, injury, or disease, and (3) some indication that the claimed disability may be associated with the established event, injury, or disease. See McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006). The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Schedule the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination to address the nature and etiology of his claimed PTSD or other acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims file must be provided to the examiner for review, and the examination report should reflect such a review was accomplished. Any clinically indicated testing and/or consultation must be performed. Following an examination of the Veteran and review of the claims file, the examiner should address the following: a. Identify any current clinically diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders, specifically commenting on whether the Veteran meets the DSM criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD. If PTSD is not diagnosed, an explanation must be provided as to why such a diagnosis is inappropriate. b. If PTSD is diagnosed, the examiner should specifically identify all stressor(s) which led to the diagnosis. c. For any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, opine as to whether it is at least as likely as not (probability of at least 50 percent) that such disorder had its onset or is otherwise etiologically related to the Veteran’s period of active service. In offering these opinions, the examiner must discuss the Veteran’s lay assertions, including that he witnessed his friend pass away from traumatic injuries during active service. A complete rationale for any opinion must be provided, including a discussion of the evidence of record and medical principles which led to the conclusions reached. MICHAEL D. LYON Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board K. Scanlan, 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.