Citation Nr: 21073101 Decision Date: 12/07/21 Archive Date: 12/07/21 DOCKET NO. 19-00 800 DATE: December 7, 2021 REMANDED Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from May 2012 to April 2013. The rating decision on appeal was issued in April 2017. The Veteran with his representative testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in June 2021. A transcript of that hearing has been associated with the claims file. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD is remanded. The Veteran contends that an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is etiologically related to his active service. The Board notes that the Veteran's service-connection claim has been adjudicated by the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) as a claim for PTSD. The evidence demonstrates that he has also been diagnosed with and treated for other psychiatric conditions, to include unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder. In light of these diagnoses and treatments, the Board has expanded the Veteran's claim to include consideration of whether service-connection is warranted for any psychiatric disability. Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1 (2009). A remand is needed to fully develop the record. The Veteran received a VA psychiatric examination in December 2016. The December 2016 examiner opined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD that conforms to DSM-5 criteria. However, the examiner failed to reconcile this finding with her later finding that the Veteran's reported stressor is adequate to support the diagnosis of PTSD. In addition, treatment records note another psychiatric diagnosis, including unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder. See July 2018 Mental Health Integrated Primary Care Note. However, no opinion has been provided as to whether this diagnosed psychiatric condition is related to the Veteran's period of service. Thus, on remand, an opinion must be obtained as to the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disability. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Schedule the Veteran for a new examination with an appropriate clinician, other than the December 2016 examiner, to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder. Following review of the claims file, interview, and examination, with any necessary testing, the examiner should address the following: (a) Identify/diagnose any acquired psychiatric disorder that presently exists or that has existed during the appeal period. 1. If a diagnosis of PTSD is made, the stressor(s) relied on should be identified. 2. If a diagnosis of unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder is not made, the examiner should reconcile such a finding against the July 2018 diagnosis of record. (b) For each psychiatric diagnosis of record, to include unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, state whether it is as likely as not that the disorder had its onset in service, to include being the result of an incident or in-service stressor. Why or why not? Cynthia M. Bruce Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board Russell, Tangela 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.