Citation Nr: 21061402
Decision Date: 10/01/21	Archive Date: 10/01/21

DOCKET NO. 17-31 639
DATE: October 1, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from August 1968 to May 1970 and is the recipient of the Combat Action Ribbon and Purple Heart. These matters are before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal of a March 2017 rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).

The appellant testified at an August 2021 video hearing with the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. This decision is being made under the "one-touch" program as all issues are remanded for additional development. A transcript of the hearing will be associated with the claims file at a later time.

The Veteran was last provided with a VA examination to consider the nature and etiology of his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder in March 2017. At that time, the examiner found that the Veteran did not have a currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder. At his August 2021 hearing, the Veteran presented testimony that he currently has additional psychiatric symptoms which were not considered by the March 2017 VA examiner. The Board finds a remand is needed to provide the Veteran a new VA examination to consider his current psychiatric symptoms.

Additionally, at the August 2021 hearing, the Veteran reported recent psychiatric treatment through the VA clinic in Dubuque, Iowa but those records have not been associated with the claims file. Remand is required to obtain these outstanding, relevant VA treatment records.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Obtain any outstanding, relevant VA treatment records, to include from the VA clinic in Dubuque, Iowa.

2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of an acquired psychiatric disorder. Please address: 

a)	What diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders have been present at any time since December 21. 2016?

b)	For each such acquired psychiatric disorder: is it at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event or disease to include the Veteran's conceded in-service combat stressors? 

 

LAURA E. COLLINS

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	Bametzreider, Paul J.

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.