Citation Nr: 18146810 Decision Date: 11/01/18 Archive Date: 11/01/18 DOCKET NO. 15-15 779 DATE: November 1, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for an eye disability claimed as floaters, also claimed as partial vision loss and vision spots in cornea is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for tachycardia is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for headaches is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a schizophrenia disorder, also claimed as a psychotic disorder is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a paranoia disorder is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active duty service from August 2006 to February 2007, with additional service in the Army National Guard. The Veteran was scheduled for a Board hearing in April 2018, but did not appear for his hearing or indicate any desire to reschedule.   1. Entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disability is remanded. The Veteran indicated that his left ankle disability may have begun during his active duty service. However, a review of the claims file does not find that his complete service treatment records have been obtained. In addition, the Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of service connection for a left ankle disability, because no VA examiner has opined whether it is related to his active duty service. 2. Entitlement to service connection for an eye disability claimed as floaters, also claimed as partial vision loss and vision spots in cornea is remanded. The Veteran indicated that his floaters condition may have begun during his active duty service. However, a review of the claims file does not find that his complete service treatment records have been obtained. A July 2013 VA examination report was provided, which noted that the Veteran’s present vision loss due to refractive error was the same refractive diagnosis found in the service treatment records in August 2006. However, the examiner did not address whether the Veteran’s vision loss was aggravated by his military service by way of superimposed disease or injury. Thus, the Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of service connection for a floaters condition, also claimed as partial vision loss and vision spots in cornea. 3. Entitlement to service connection for tachycardia is remanded. The Veteran indicated that his tachycardia may have begun during his active duty service. However, a review of the claims file does not find that his complete service treatment records have been obtained. In addition, the Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of tachycardia because no VA examiner has opined whether it is related to his active duty service. 4. Entitlement to service connection for headaches is remanded. The Veteran indicated that his headaches may have begun during his active duty service. However, a review of the claims file does not find that his complete service treatment records have been obtained. In addition, the Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of service connection for headaches, because no VA examiner has opined whether it is related to his active duty service. 5. Entitlement to service connection for a schizophrenia disorder, also claimed as a psychotic disorder is remanded. The Veteran indicated that his schizophrenia may have begun during his active duty service. However, a review of the claims file does not find that his complete service treatment records have been obtained. There also needs to be an accounting for periods of active duty and inactive duty service after this initial period of active duty service, as the Veteran had subsequent service in the Army National Guard and was discharged in June 2012. A July 2010 VA treatment record notes that the Veteran’s mother noticed bizarre behavior in February 2010. A July 3, 2010 VA treatment record notes that the Veteran was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was on active duty. The Veteran also stated on VA treatment at that time that he saw a psychologist as a child for hyperactivity. He noted that when he was 16 years old, he was treated for depression and anxiety, and reported a suicide attempt by cutting his wrist. This statement raises the issue of a preexisting disability. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of service connection for a schizophrenia disorder because no VA examiner has opined whether it first manifested during active duty service.   6. Entitlement to service connection for a paranoia disorder is remanded. The Veteran indicated that his paranoia may have begun during his active duty service. However, a review of the claims file does not find that his complete service treatment records have been obtained. In addition, the Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of service connection for paranoia, because no VA examiner has opined whether it is related to his active duty service. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain the Veteran’s complete service treatment records to include documents pertaining to his service in the Army National Guard. Document all requests for information as well as all responses in the claims file. 2. Obtain the Veteran’s complete service personnel records, to include all documents pertaining to his service in the Army National Guard. Verify all active duty for training and inactive duty training dates for purported service in the Army National Guard. If necessary, a request should be made to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). Document all requests for information as well as all responses in the claims file. 3. Obtain the Veteran’s VA treatment records for the period from January 2014 to present. 4. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any left ankle disability. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. 5. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any eye disability to include floaters and claimed as vision loss. The examiner should: a). clearly identify all current eye disorders; b). for each diagnosed eye disorder characterized as a refractive error, opine as to whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) that a currently diagnosed eye disorder is the result of an additional disability superimposed upon the refractive error during a qualifying period of active service or active duty for training; c). for each diagnosed eye disorder that is not characterized as a congenital or development defect such as a refractive error, opine as to whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) that the disorder had its onset during a qualifying period of service or is otherwise related to such service. 6. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any tachycardia. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. 7. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any headache disability. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. 8. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia and/ or paranoia. The examiner must opine whether it clearly and unmistakably (undebatable) preexisted the Veteran’s service. If the examiner finds it did clearly and unmistakably preexist service, the examiner must opine whether it was clearly and unmistakably not aggravated by service. If the examiner finds that it either did not clearly and unmistakably preexist service, or was not clearly and unmistakably aggravated by service, the examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. S. L. Kennedy Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD Sarah B. Richmond