Citation Nr: 18145337
Decision Date: 10/26/18	Archive Date: 10/26/18

DOCKET NO. 16-30 258
DATE:	October 26, 2018
REMANDED
The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a right knee disorder is remanded.
The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a left knee disorder is remanded.
Service connection for a low back disorder is remanded.
Service connection for a left hip disorder is remanded.
Service connection for a right hip disorder is remanded.
Service connection for a left eye disorder is remanded.
Service connection for a right eye disorder is remanded.
Service connection for a sinus disorder is remanded.
Service connection for hypertension is remanded.
Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran’s VA medical records document private treatment, the records for which are not associated with the claims file.  2015 records reference an unnamed private doctor in Beaumont, a Dr. Santiago, a Dr. Tuescher, who is a private orthopedic surgeon, Beaumont Bone & Joint clinic, and a surgical procedure for the left knee in 2010.  The Board finds that an attempt must be made to obtain these records prior to rendering a decision. 
The Veteran’s VA records contain a diagnosis of rule-out posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  He has reported various events during his service as a military policeman, including discovering the hanging body of an African American solider on the obstacle course and dealing with a situation where a soldier was decapitated.  Efforts should be made to verify these events, and, if appropriate, he should be provided a VA examination. 
There is currently no evidence showing the Veteran has a back disorder, but his service treatment records do show a back injury.  If any of the VA or private records obtained on remand show diagnosis of a current back condition, an examination should be done to obtain an opinion as to whether it is related to the in-service back injury.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain the Veteran’s Houston VAMC records from February 2016 to the present. 
2. Ask the Veteran to complete a VA Form 21-4142 for any relevant private treatment he has received for the claimed conditions AT ANY TIME since his discharge from service, to include the providers listed above.  Make two requests for the authorized records, unless it is clear after the first request that a second request would be futile.
3. Send the Veteran a form to complete with additional details as to his stressful events during service.
4. If the Veteran provides sufficient details, attempt to corroborate his stressors.
5. DO NOT SCHEDULE THE FOLLOWING EXAMINATIONS UNTIL THE ABOVE DEVELOPMENT IS COMPLETED TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE.
6. Schedule the Veteran for a VA mental health examination, to include PTSD. After examination and a review of the claims file, the examiner should respond to the following:
(a.) Does the Veteran meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD?  If not, please explain why.
(b.) For any diagnosed mental health disorder, to  include the diagnosis of adjustment disorders shown in his VA outpatient records, is it at least as likely as not that it is related to his military service, including as military police? 
7. If the records obtained on remand reveal a current back disorder, schedule the Veteran for a VA spine examination. After examination and a review of the claims file, the examiner should respond to the following:
Is it at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s current back disorder is related to his military 
 
service, including the documented in-service back injury in February 1978? 
 
MICHELLE L. KANE
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	M. Lavan, Associate Counsel