Citation Nr: 18145245
Decision Date: 10/26/18	Archive Date: 10/26/18

DOCKET NO. 15-18 850A
DATE:	October 26, 2018
REMANDED
Service connection for a psychiatric disorder is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from November 26, 2001 to June 27, 2002.
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an August 2013 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).  The Veteran testified at a hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in October 2018.
1. Service connection for a psychiatric disorder is remanded.
The Veteran did not appear for a VA examination scheduled in August 2013.  In his hearing testimony in October 2018, he stated that did not receive notice of the examination.  The Board finds good cause for the Veteran’s failure to appear for the examination.  Therefore, he should be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination on remand.  Additional records should also be obtained, as set forth below.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Make arrangements to obtain all determinations concerning the Veteran’s claims for SSA, SSI and/or SSDI and copies of the medical records that served as the basis for any such decisions.  If these records are not available, a negative reply is required.
2. Ask the Veteran to identify and provide releases for all medical care providers that treated him for psychiatric problems from June 2002 to present, including, but not limited to, South Attleborough, Malden (Dr. Pearlman), Melrose-Wakefield Behavioral Center, Nancy Ryerson, and Wilmington Family Counseling.  Then, make arrangements to obtain all records that have not yet been obtained.  
3. Arrange for a VA mental health examination and medical nexus opinion, as specified below.  The examiner should conduct a thorough examination, and record all pertinent clinical findings in the examination report.
The examiner should identify all psychiatric disorders found to be present, i.e., major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, panic disorder, bipolar disorder, etc.
The examiner is asked to provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50% probability or more) that any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder is medically linked to the Veteran’s in-service diagnosis of adjustment disorder with depressed mood.  Among other pertinent evidence, the examiner should consider a March 2002 mental health consultation report, which reflects that the Veteran reported struggling with depression since his arrival in boot camp, in November 2001.  The examiner should also consider the Veteran’s assertion that he became depressed during service because his mother was diagnosed with ALS in approximately November 2001.
The examiner should provide a complete explanation in support of the conclusion reached.  
 
P.M. DILORENZO
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	J. Rutkin, Counsel