Citation Nr: 21013502 Decision Date: 03/09/21 Archive Date: 03/09/21 DOCKET NO. 18-09 191 DATE: March 9, 2021 REMANDED Service connection for a psychiatric disorder.   REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from November 2000 to November 2004. The case is on appeal from March 2017 and June 2018 rating decisions. In February 2021, the Veteran testified at a Board hearing Service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The Veteran contends that she has a psychiatric disorder due to service. In February 2017, the Veteran submitted a claim for anxiety with major depressive disorder due to service and, in March 2018, the Veteran submitted a claim for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as secondary to anxiety with major depressive disorder. The Board has recharacterized the appeals as broader claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder generally. See Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1 (2009). The Veteran stated that, while in service, the Veteran’s roommate told the Veteran that she had been raped by two service members. The Veteran encouraged her roommate to report the rape. After the roommate reported the incident the Veteran began receiving threats from the alleged perpetrators of the rape. The Veteran’s roommate also attempted suicide twice. The Veteran shared that the experience was traumatic and created feelings of guilt, fear, and anxiety. She contends that her current psychiatric disorder(s) are due to this in-service occurrence. A May 2018 VA examiner diagnosed the Veteran with an unspecified anxiety disorder and indicated the Veteran’s symptoms do not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. The VA examiner stated the evidence and interview do not support the Veteran’s claim that her anxiety disorder originated in the military. The VA examiner suggested the Veteran’s anxiety disorder may have had its onset after or before the Veteran’s military service and the VA examiner stated that there is no objective proof for service connection. The VA examiner indicated she could not base service connection on the Veteran’s lay testimony. Thereafter, a private October 2018 evaluation included diagnoses of PTSD, depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder. A private November 2019 evaluation included diagnoses of general anxiety disorder, panic disorder, PTSD, insomnia and major depressive disorder. In view of this information, the Board finds that a remand is warranted to afford the Veteran another VA examination and medical opinion. The matter is REMANDED for the following actions: Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination (telehealth interview or review of the record, if an in-person examination is not feasible) by an appropriate medical professional to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s psychiatric disorders. The entire claims file should be reviewed by the examiner. The examiner is asked to: Identify all the Veteran’s psychiatric disorders, to include whether she meets the criteria for PTSD. If PTSD is not diagnosed, it should be explained why this diagnosis is not appropriate. If the examiner finds that the Veteran meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, indicate whether it is at least as likely as not the result of an in-service stressor. (Continued on the next page)   For each diagnosed disorder other than PTSD, the examiner should offer an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not that any such disorder had its onset during service, or is otherwise related to service. A rationale should be provided for opinions expressed. RYAN T. KESSEL Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board M.L. Thomas 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.