Citation Nr: 21000456 Decision Date: 01/05/21 Archive Date: 01/05/21 DOCKET NO. 10-38 308 DATE: January 5, 2021 REMANDED The issue of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from October 1976 to October 1980. This matter comes to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a May 2010 rating decision by a Regional Office (RO) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This matter was remanded in November 2011, June 2014, and January 2019 for further development. In the Veteran’s original PTSD claim (dated February 2010), he attributed his PTSD to failed surgical procedures and ensuing residuals. It was adjudicated as a 38 U.S.C. § 1151 claim. The vast majority of the Veteran’s July 2012 hearing testimony pertained to residuals of surgery. The June 2014 Board Remand focused on determining whether the Veteran sustained additional disability as a result of surgery. An October 2015 VA medical opinion weighed against the claim. The Veteran submitted a July 2020 examination report from Erik Levy, Psy.D. In it, the Veteran reported military stressors. Specifically, he stated that in February 1979, while aboard the U.S.S. Eisenhower, he was hit with a jet blast while on the flight line. He was thrown backwards and grabbed for anything that he could in order to avoid falling off the back of the aircraft carrier. He stated that he was burned, and that he injured his knee and back. Additionally, the Veteran stated that in 1978, he and an assistant launched a plane at 7:30-8:00 a.m. and the jet never came back. He was told that the jet crashed in Alabama. Dr. Levy diagnosed PTSD and attributed it to these military stressors; however, these stressors have not been corroborated. A remand is required to allow VA to attempt to corroborate the Veteran’s reported stressors. If, and only if, a stressor is corroborated, the RO should obtain a VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran has any psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, that is attributable to a corroborated stressor. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Attempt to corroborate the Veteran’s in-service stressors, including being hit with a jet blast in February 1979 while aboard the U.S.S. Eisenhower, and a 1978 plane crash. If more details are needed, contact the Veteran to request the information. 2. If, and only if, a stressor is corroborated, schedule the Veteran for a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any PTSD. If PTSD is diagnosed, the examiner must explain how the diagnostic criteria are met and opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to a corroborated in-service stressor. If any other acquired psychiatric disorders are diagnosed, the examiner must opine whether each diagnosed disorder is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury or disease, to include his corroborated stressors. The examiner must reconcile his/her findings with the positive nexus opinion provided by Dr. Levy in his July 2020 examination report. JAMES L. MARCH Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board M. Prem, 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.