Citation Nr: 20041148
Decision Date: 06/17/20	Archive Date: 06/17/20

DOCKET NO. 16-00 714
DATE: June 17, 2020

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include schizophrenia is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran had active duty service from June 1957 to November 1957.

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a September 2012 rating decision from a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).

In June 2018, the Board remanded this issue to the AOJ for additional development. The case has since returned to the Board for further adjudication. Unfortunately, due to the reasons that follow, another remand is necessary.

1. Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include schizophrenia is remanded.

The June 2018 Board remand directed the AOJ to attempt to obtain records from the state psychiatry hospital in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico (an internet search reveals that it may be the San Juan Capestrano Hospital). An April 2019 letter to the Veteran requested that he complete a VA Form 21-4142, Authorization to Disclose Information to VA. In May 2019, the Veteran returned an incomplete VA Form 21-4142 with no provider information. The AOJ should inform the Veteran that records will not be requested unless all sections of the form are completed.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Ask the Veteran to complete releases authorizing VA to obtain his records from any provider who has treated him for a psychiatric disorder, to include The Psychiatry Hospital (the state psychiatry hospital) in Rio Piedras. The AOJ should specifically inform the Veteran that if all sections of the release are not completed, including the provider information, a request for records cannot be made. If releases are completed, make reasonable efforts to obtain any identified private treatment records, to include records from The Psychiatry Hospital (the state psychiatry hospital) in Rio Piedras. All attempts to obtain the records must be documented in the claims file. If any requested records are not obtained, inform the Veteran.

 

 

S. L. Kennedy

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	M. Smith, 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.