Citation Nr: 21040538
Decision Date: 07/05/21	Archive Date: 07/05/21

DOCKET NO. 17-16 758
DATE: July 5, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for a chronic psychiatric disorder, to include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and an unspecified anxiety disorder, is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from January 1966 to January 1969 in the United States Army.  It appears he had two tours of duty in Vietnam.

In September 2020, the Veteran testified before the undersigned during a virtual hearing of the Board. A transcript of the hearing is included in the electronic claims file.

The Board remanded this issue in January 2021.  Some development was accomplished and the matter has been returned to the Board. 

Entitlement to service connection for a chronic psychiatric disorder, to include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and an unspecified anxiety disorder, is remanded. 

A review of the record reveals that a remand is necessary to ensure substantial compliance with the Board's January 2021 remand directives. See Stegall v. West, 11 Vet. App. 268, 271 (1998).  

The Veteran and his representative have alleged that the Veteran's chronic psychiatric disorder, most recently characterized as an unspecified anxiety disorder, is due to in-service stressors involving other specified trauma related to warzone incidents.  A 2014 examination noted that while the Veteran did not have findings compatible with PTSD, he did have stressors reported that met the criteria of being related to a fear of hostile military or terrorist activity.  It is noted the Veteran was in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive.  No attempt to verify stressors or obtain an opinion as to whether the currently diagnosed disorder is related to service has been undertaken.

Accordingly, the matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine whether the Veteran's current diagnosis of an unspecified anxiety disorder is at least as likely as not related to in-service stressors or otherwise related to service.  If steps are needed to verify the stressors, such steps should be undertaken..  All clinical findings should be reported in detail.

2. The RO should review the examination report to ensure that it is in complete compliance with the directives of this remand. If a report is deficient the RO must implement corrective procedures. 

 

MICHAEL D. LYON

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	Omosegbon, Babalakin O.

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.