Citation Nr: 19145643 Decision Date: 06/13/19 Archive Date: 06/12/19 DOCKET NO. 18-32 476 DATE: June 13, 2019 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a neck disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) from September 1986 to March 1987. The Board notes that the issue of increased rating higher than 50 percent for posttraumatic headache disability was adjudicated in a May 2019 SOC; however, the Veteran did not perfect his appeal and it is not yet in appellate status. A remand is necessary to provide the Veteran with a VA examination to help determine the likely etiology of his claimed neck disability and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran sustained a parachute injury in February 1987. See February 1987 service treatment records. In fact, he is service-connected for posttraumatic cluster headaches and lumbar spine disability with associated lumbar radiculopathy as a result of this injury. The Veteran asserts that he sustained a neck injury at the same time; however, his back injury was more severe and as such the neck pain at the time was overlooked. Furthermore, he asserts that some of his mental health problems began after the sustained head injury, which he believes was related to it. A February 1987 record indicates a symptom of anxiety after the head injury. Furthermore, VA mental health treatment records discuss non-military traumas. Nevertheless, given the evidence of an in-service injury and a currently diagnosed neck disability and various psychiatric disorders, the Board finds that providing the Veteran with VA examinations is necessary prior to deciding the claims on the merits. See McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006). The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Ensure that all outstanding VA treatment records are associated with the claims file. 2. Thereafter, provide the Veteran with an appropriate VA examination to help determine the likely etiology of any currently diagnosed neck disability. The claims file and a copy of this remand will be made available to the examiner. After a careful review of the record and examination of the Veteran, the examiner is asked to respond to the following: (a) Identify any currently diagnosed neck disability. (b) For any currently diagnosed neck disability, provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability), had its onset during ACDUTRA or is otherwise related to ACDUTRA, to specifically include the documented head injury. A complete rationale should be provided for all opinions. 3. Thereafter, provide the Veteran with an appropriate VA examination to help determine the likely etiology of any currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims file and a copy of this remand will be made available to the examiner. After a careful review of the record and examination of the Veteran, the examiner is asked to respond to the following: (a) Identify any currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, to include Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. (b) For any currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability), had its onset during ACDUTRA, or is otherwise related to ACDUTRA, to specifically include the documented head injury. The examiner should discuss the February 1987 record that indicates a symptom of anxiety after the head injury. (c) For any currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability), caused by his service-connected disabilities. (d) For any currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability), aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. A complete rationale should be provided for all opinions. 4. Thereafter, readjudicate the remanded claims. S. Sorathia Acting Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD A. Yaffe, Associate Counsel The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential, and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.