Citation Nr: 21076462 Decision Date: 12/23/21 Archive Date: 12/23/21 DOCKET NO. 18-42 412 DATE: December 23, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or major depressive disorder (MDD), is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from April 1961 to September 1965. This matter is before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a November 2017 rating decision issued by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran testified at a hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge (VLJ) in March 2020. A transcript of the hearing is associated with the electronic claims file. The Board issued two prior remands on this claim in June 2020 and April 2021. 1. Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD and/or MDD, is remanded. A review of the evidence indicates that during the pendency of this claim, the Veteran has been diagnosed with both PTSD and MDD. However, the Veteran has never been given a VA examination for his PTSD, nor has a medical nexus opinion regarding such been rendered. With regard to his MDD, the Veteran was previously given a VA examination in April 2015, however the only opinion rendered was whether it was secondary to his service-connected tinnitus, no direct nexus opinion was provided. As the Veteran has consistently provided evidence in support of his claim that his current psychiatric condition(s) began during and/or are the result of his active military service, remand is necessary to provide him with adequate VA examinations for such and to obtain opinions regarding etiology. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Update the electronic file with any new VA treatment records and private treatment records. 2. Schedule the Veteran for VA examinations for both his MDD and PTSD. The examiner should be given a complete copy of the Veteran's electronic claims file and a note that such was reviewed should be included in his or her report. The examiner should answer the following questions: (a.) Is it at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran's current MDD is etiologically related to his active military service? (b.) Is it at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran's current PTSD is etiologically related to his active military service? In formulating an opinion, the examiner should specifically consider and discuss the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors of working on the flight line, being exposed to loud noises, and being denied a chance to complete missile training. A detailed rationale for the opinion must be provided. If the reviewing clinician is unable to offer the requested opinion, it is essential that the reviewing clinician offer a rationale for the conclusion that an opinion could not be provided without resort to speculation, together with a statement as to whether there is additional evidence that could enable an opinion to be provided, or whether the inability to provide the opinion is based on the limits of medical knowledge. TANYA SMITH Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board K. Ruiz, 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.