Citation Nr: 22016565 Decision Date: 03/22/22 Archive Date: 03/22/22 DOCKET NO. 15-38 802A DATE: March 22, 2022 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from April 1975 to September 1977. The matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a March 2013 rating decision by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran testified at a hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge (VLJ) in August 2021. The hearing transcript is of record. The Board has recharacterized the Veteran's claim for PTSD more broadly to an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, in order to clarify the nature of the benefit sought and ensure complete consideration of the claim. See Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1, 5-6 (2009). Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain a VA medical examination. McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006). The Veteran's VA treatment records, indicate past treatment for acquired psychiatric conditions. See CAPRI records received by VA in April 2021 (noting a past treatment history for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder and depression). The Veteran has stated that his symptoms began following verbal and physical harassment in service. These statements indicate a plausible nexus to service. Review of the record indicates that the Veteran has not been provided with a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder. In light of the presence of a possible disability and a plausible nexus to service, the Board finds that the "low threshold" requirement under McLendon, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006), is met, and the Veteran should be afforded a VA examination. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain updated VA treatment records. 2. Thereafter, schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims file, to include a copy of this remand, must be made available to and reviewed by the examiner in conjunction with the examination. All testing deemed necessary must be conducted. The examiner is asked to elicit from the Veteran a detailed history of his symptoms, their onset and progression. The examiner must opine on whether any acquired psychiatric disorder is etiologically related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. A complete rationale should be given for all opinions and conclusions expressed. If the examiner cannot provide an opinion without resort to speculation, the examiner should provide an explanation as to why this is so and must state whether there is additional evidence that would permit the necessary opinion to be made. Nathaniel J. Doan Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board M. Minaya, 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.