Citation Nr: 18158181
Decision Date: 12/18/18	Archive Date: 12/14/18

DOCKET NO. 11-18 433A
DATE:	December 18, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include schizophrenia is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
Entitlement to an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include schizophrenia is remanded.
The Veteran served on active duty from December 1977 to December 1980.  
These matters come before the Board of Veterans Appeals' (Board) on appeal from an August 2010 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Los Angeles, California.  In a November 2017 decision, following a June 2017 hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge, the Board reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include schizophrenia and subsequently denied that issue as well as the issue of entitlement to service connection for an eye condition.  The Veteran appealed the Board’s November 2017decision to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court).  A July 2018 order vacated the Board’s decision with respect to the issue of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include schizophrenia, and adopted a Joint Motion for Partial Remand (JMPR) for reconsideration of the Veteran’s claim.  The Court noted that the Board’s denial of entitlement to service connection for an eye condition was to remain undisturbed.  
The July 2018 JMPR sought a more comprehensive explanation for the Board’s finding the Veteran’s post service (1982) report of in-service psychiatric symptoms was not credible.  A current medical evaluation and opinion may assist in this matter. 
The appeal is REMANDED for the following actions:
1. Ask the Veteran to identify any additional records of treatment he wishes considered in connection with this appeal.  The identified records should be sought.  
2. Afford the Veteran a medical examination with corresponding report from an appropriate examiner regarding the claimed acquired psychiatric disorder. 
The claims file and all electronic records should be made available to the examiner.  All indicated tests and studies should be accomplished and the findings reported in detail.  
After considering the record, including particularly the Veteran’s reports from the early 1980’s of experiencing psychiatric symptoms when on active duty, the examiner should express an opinion as to whether the Veteran’s psychiatric disability was symptomatic when on active duty.  
A fully articulated medical rationale for any opinions expressed should be set forth in the examination report. The examiner should address the particulars of this Veteran's medical history and the relevant medical science as applicable to this claim.  If the examiner is unable to render an opinion without resorting to speculation, this should be noted and explained.
3. Thereafter, readjudicate the appeal. If any of the benefits sought remain denied, issue a supplemental statement of the case and return the case to the Board.

 
M. E. KILCOYNE
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Department of Veterans Affairs