Citation Nr: 18155728
Decision Date: 12/06/18	Archive Date: 12/04/18

DOCKET NO. 15-01 579
DATE:	December 6, 2018
REMANDED
Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from September 1988 to July 1991.
The Veteran contends his current psychiatric disorders are related to military service.  VA treatment records reflect in May 2011 the Veteran reported he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in prison and that he has suffered from depression for the past two years.  The treatment reports reflect the Veteran met with a psychiatrist while in prison due to not sleeping and hearing voices.  He reported he was prescribed medication in prison.  Treatment reports reflect the Veteran was released from prison in February 2011.
The duty to assist requires that VA make all necessary efforts to obtain relevant records in the possession of a Federal agency.  Federal prison records fall into this category.  As it is unclear from the record where the Veteran was incarcerated when he was diagnosed with and received treatment for bipolar disorder, further development is required.  38 U.S.C. § 5103A; 38 C.F.R. § 3.159.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
Ask the Veteran to identify all outstanding treatment records relevant to his psychiatric disorder claim, to specifically include treatment records from his periods of incarceration.  All identified VA records should be added to the claims file.  All other properly identified records, to include identified Federal prison records, should be obtained if the necessary authorization to obtain the records is provided by the Veteran.  If any records are not available, or the Veteran identifies sources of treatment but does not provide authorization to obtain records, appropriate action should be taken, to include notifying the Veteran of the unavailability of the records.
 
Nathan Kroes
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	M. Gonzalez, Associate Counsel