Citation Nr: 21024646
Decision Date: 04/23/21	Archive Date: 04/23/21

DOCKET NO. 15-22 806
DATE: April 23, 2021

REMANDED

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

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps from October 1968 to September 1970.

The Veteran testified at a hearing before the undersigned in September 2018; a transcript is associated with the record. 

The Board remanded the appeal in May 2019 to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination and to submit a request to the Joint Service Records Research Center (JSRRC) to corroborate the Veteran’s stressor.  

1. Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depressive disorder, is remanded.

The February 2013 examiner indicated the Veteran’s symptoms were better represented by a diagnosis of depressive disorder.  The June 2011 examiner found that he had a diagnosis of PTSD, chronic and adjustment disorder with depressed mood.  An April 2020 treatment record shows the Veteran suffered from depression and chronic PTSD. 

In a March 2021 statement, the Veteran’s representative argued that other diagnoses should also be considered as part of the appeal.  The Board agrees.  

As such, the Board finds that a remand is appropriate to obtain an additional opinion addressing whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis, and the etiology of, any acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive and adjustment disorders.  Although the January 2020 VA examiner found no diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, there is evidence of such diagnoses during the appeal period.  

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Obtain an addendum opinion as to the etiology of the Veteran’s claimed acquired psychiatric disorder.  If an examination is required, schedule the Veteran for a VA mental health examination.  

The examiner is asked to determine whether the Veteran has had a diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder at any time during the appeal period, and if it was caused by or related to his service, to include the reported stressor of almost drowning during a drill exercise.  

The examiner is asked to review the entire claims file, to include relevant evidence such as the June 2011, February 2013 and September 2020 examiner’s findings and treatment records showing diagnoses of depressive disorder and adjustment disorder.

To the extent possible, the examiner is asked to determine whether the diagnoses of depressive disorder and adjustment disorder were accurate at the time they were diagnosed.  If not, the examiner is asked to explain why or why not.  

Provide a detailed rationale for any opinions.   

 

 

H.M. WALKER

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	A. Price, 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.