Citation Nr: 20031794 Decision Date: 05/06/20 Archive Date: 05/06/20 DOCKET NO. 20-15 127 DATE: May 6, 2020 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from August 1982 to May 1986. The Veteran asserts that his acquired psychiatric disorder is due to his active service. He reported that he experienced traumatic events during his service while stationed in the United States, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. In March 2019, the Veteran was afforded a VA examination. The examiner diagnosed the Veteran with other trauma and stress related disorder. The examiner opined that the Veteran’s other trauma and stress related disorder was at least as likely as not due to the Veteran’s active service. However, the claims file contains no development regarding the Veteran’s duty stations or reported stressors. The Veteran reported that while stationed at Travis Air Force Base in February 1985, an unidentified aircraft landed, and he was on security that was dispatched to the incident. He reported that in May 1985, he responded to a bomb threat on base. The Veteran reported that during a landing maneuver in Panama, several of the aircraft’s tires blew out. He reported that he had to wait overnight in a jungle until a repair aircraft was dispatched. The Veteran reported that in July 1985 to September 1985, he was deployed to Howard Air Force Base in Panama and his duties entailed anti-terrorism perimeter patrols. The Veteran reported that he was on patrol in Honduras and Nicaragua and witnessed soldiers committing offenses towards civilians. As such, a remand is necessary to obtain any orders for the Veteran regarding his duty stations and any missions in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama and attempt to substantiate the Veteran’s reported stressors. Flight logs, mission reports, and flight manifests should be obtained, if they are available, to verify if the Veteran was involved in his reported aircraft incident. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Contact the appropriate service department and obtain records of the Veteran’s orders regarding duty station assignments in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama, to include flight logs, mission reports, and flight manifests, to verify the Veteran’s report that he was aboard an aircraft that required repairs in Panama. If such records are not ultimately obtained, the Veteran should be notified pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(e). KELLI A. KORDICH Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board T. Berryman, 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.