Citation Nr: 22012604 Decision Date: 03/04/22 Archive Date: 03/04/22 DOCKET NO. 19-03 192A DATE: March 4, 2022 ORDER Entitlement to service connection for hypertension has been withdrawn. REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for anxiety condition is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for depression is remanded. FINDING OF FACT During the August 2020 hearing, prior to the promulgation of a decision in the appeal, the Veteran requested a withdrawal of his appeal of entitlement to service connection for hypertension. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for withdrawal of the appeal of entitlement to service connection for hypertension are met. 38 U.S.C. § 7105 (2018); 38 C.F.R. § 19.55 (2020). REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran served on active duty from January 1990 to January 1994. These matters come before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a June 2017 rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regional office (RO). In August 2020, the Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge; a transcript of the hearing is of record. Withdrawn Issue An appeal may be withdrawn as to any or all issues involved in the appeal at any time before the Board promulgates a decision. 38 C.F.R. § 19.55. Withdrawal may be made by the appellant or by his authorized representative. Id. In the present case, the appellant has withdrawn the claim of service connection for hypertension. The oral withdrawal occurred during the August 2020 hearing and was explicit, unambiguous, and done with a full understanding of the consequences of such action on the part of the claimant. See August 12, 2020 Hearing Transcript. There remain no allegations of errors of fact or law for appellate consideration. Accordingly, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review this appeal and it is dismissed. REASONS FOR REMAND Entitlement to service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for anxiety condition is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for depression is remanded. Although the Board regrets the additional delay, a remand is necessary to ensure there is a complete record on which to decide the Veteran's claim. The Veteran contends that his psychological disorders are related to incidents that occurred while he was on active duty. See May 12, 2020 Correspondence. The Veteran underwent VA examination in May 2017. The examiner opined that the Veteran's self-report was invalid for diagnostic purposes and did not assign a mental health diagnosis. The examiner explained that the assessment of psychiatric conditions was heavily reliant on self-report and that a reliable assessment of the Veteran's psychological condition could not be obtained at the time due to problems associated with the credibility of his self-ratings and, by extension, self-report. See May 9, 2017 C&P Exam. VA medical records indicate the Veteran has received mental health services. During an October 2017 session, the Veteran was diagnosed with a mood disorder. During a February 2018 treatment, the Veteran was diagnosed with depression and social anxiety. See March 7, 2018 CAPRI. However, no examiner has opined whether the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders may be related to his active service. As no examiner has opined whether the Veteran's diagnoses may be related to his active service, additional medical examination is warranted before the claim can be adjudicated on its merits. On remand, the Veteran must be afforded another VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current psychiatric disorders. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of all current psychiatric disorders. After a review of the claims file and examination of the Veteran: a) The examiner should list all psychiatric disabilities diagnosed on examination. b) For any psychiatric disability (other than PTSD) diagnosed on examination, the examiner should opine as to whether that disorder had its clinical onset in service or is otherwise related to active duty. c) For any PTSD diagnosed on examination, the examiner must identify the stressor(s) which serve as the basis for the PTSD diagnosis. In offering the opinion, the examiner is asked to consider and discuss all pertinent evidence in the claims file, to include the Veteran's lay statements regarding the history of his symptoms and his current diagnoses of mood disorder, depression, and social anxiety. A clear rationale for all opinions must be provided and a discussion of the facts and medical principles involved would be of considerable assistance to the Board. J. B. FREEMAN Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board C.L. Hamilton, 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.