Citation Nr: 18132215
Decision Date: 09/06/18	Archive Date: 09/06/18

DOCKET NO. 16-04 994
DATE:	September 6, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for depression is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from October 1998 to October 2012.
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an April 2013 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in San Juan, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.  Jurisdiction of this matter is with the RO in Roanoke, Virginia.  
1. Entitlement to service connection for depression is remanded.
The Veteran has claimed that her depression is secondary to her infertility, which is now service-connected as removal of right ovary/fallopian tube and left tubal ligation.  Additionally, VA treatment records suggest that there is a relationship between the Veteran’s depression and her now service-connected removal of right ovary/fallopian tube and left tubal ligation. The Veteran has not yet been afforded a VA examination addressing the etiology of her depression and has indicated that she is willing to attend an examination.  As such, the Board finds that a VA examination is warranted.

The matter is REMANDED for the following actions:
Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of her depression.  Provide the claims file, including a copy of this REMAND, to the examiner for review.  
After review of the claims file, the examiner should respond to the following:
a. Is it at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran’s depression is due to or aggravated by her service-connected removal of right ovary/fallopian tube and left tubal ligation.
b. Is it at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran’s depression is related to her military service.  
A complete rationale for any opinion expressed must be provided.  If an opinion cannot be expressed without resort to speculation, discuss why this is the case.  
 
LESLEY A. REIN
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	E. Ko, Associate Counsel

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