Citation Nr: 21005002 Decision Date: 01/28/21 Archive Date: 01/28/21 DOCKET NO. 15-22 448 DATE: January 28, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from August 1981 to August 1985, followed by a period of service in the Army reserves. This matter comes to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from a May 2014 rating decision which, in pertinent part, denied entitlement to service connection for an adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features (claimed as PTSD). In September 2015, the Veteran testified at a hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. A transcript of the hearing is of record. In July 2018 and September 2020, the Board remanded this claim for further development. In the September 2020 remand, the Board recharacterized the Veteran’s claim as entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. See Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1 (2009). Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is remanded. The Board finds that remand is required because there was not substantial compliance with the September 2020 Board remand. See Stegall v. West, 11 Vet. App. 268, 271 (1998). The remand recharacterized the Veteran’s claim as an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, and requested an addendum opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that any currently diagnosed psychiatric disability was caused by or incurred in service. While the VA examiner in November 2019 diagnosed the Veteran with an acquired psychiatric disability, to include unspecified mood disorder, the September 2020 addendum opinion did not include a nexus opinion on whether any currently diagnosed psychiatric disability was caused by or incurred in service. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: Obtain an addendum opinion to the September 2020 opinion, if available. If a new examination is needed, schedule the Veteran for an examination. The VA examiner is asked to determine whether it is at least as likely as not that any currently diagnosed psychiatric disability, to include unspecified mood disorder, was caused by or incurred in service. K. Parakkal Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Craig Ormson, 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.