Citation Nr: 20022405 Decision Date: 03/31/20 Archive Date: 03/31/20 DOCKET NO. 19-30 088 DATE: March 31, 2020 ORDER Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety, depression, and depressive disorder, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active military service from September 2000 to December 2002. This appeal comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from a March 2018 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Board finds that additional development is required before the appeal is decided. A review of the Veteran’s service treatment records (STRs) indicate that he had issues of alcohol abuse during active service. In March 2002, the Veteran was admitted to the emergency room for a fall that left him severely injured and unconscious; upon his admission he was given five vials of Metadoxil, as his blood alcohol level was .094. Upon discharge from the hospital, the Veteran’s treating physician recommended that he avoid alcohol. In two separate October 2002 evaluations, the Veteran’s Executive Officer and Sergeant First Class praised his job performance, but explicitly cautioned him to realize that his actions both on and off duty greatly affected both his life and career. A review of the Veteran’s post-service VA treatment records indicates that as early as July 2005, he was diagnosed with and treated for alcohol and drug abuse. The Veteran’s VA treatment records also indicate that as early as 2009 the Veteran was diagnosed with anxiety not otherwise specified (NOS), depression NOS, and a depressive disorder by various VA clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and psychologists. Additionally, current treatment records should be identified and obtained before a decision is made in this case. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Identify and obtain any pertinent, outstanding VA and private treatment records and associate them with the claims file. 2. Then, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination with an examiner with sufficient expertise to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present acquired psychiatric disability. The claims file must be made available to and reviewed by the examiner. Any indicated studies should be performed. Based upon the examination results and a review of the record, the examiner should first identify all psychiatric disabilities present during the pendency of the claim or proximate thereto. Then, for each psychiatric disability identified, the examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that any such identified psychiatric disability had its onset during active service, or is otherwise etiologically related to active service. In forming the opinion, the examiner must consider the implications of the Veteran’s documented in-service alcohol abuse and whether the alcohol use was self-medication for an underlying psychiatric disability. A rationale for all opinions expressed must be provided. 3. Confirm that the VA examination report and all medical opinions provided comport with this remand and undertake any other development determined to be warranted. 4. Then, readjudicate the appeal. If the decision remains adverse to the Veteran, issue a supplemental statement of the case and allow the appropriate time for response. Then, return the case to the Board. Kristin Haddock Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board A. Byrd, 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.