Citation Nr: 20041326 Decision Date: 06/17/20 Archive Date: 06/17/20 DOCKET NO. 17-27 099 DATE: June 17, 2020 REMANDED Whether new and material evidence was received to reopen a claim for entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active military service from November 1960 to July 1962. The Veteran appeared for a hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in April 2019. The hearing transcript is associated with the claims file. Whether new and material evidence was received to reopen a claim for entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder At the April 2019 Board hearing, the Veteran and his representative reported the Veteran received psychiatric counseling for eight months at Lakewood Vet Center. A July 2019 Board remand instructed the RO obtain these records. The RO made a single attempt to obtain authorization from the Veteran. VA will make as many requests as necessary to obtain relevant records from a Federal department or agency. 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(e)(2). If necessary, the claimant must authorize the release of existing records in a form acceptable to the custodian or agency holding the records. Id. The Board requests the RO make reasonable attempt to obtain authorization from the Veteran for these records. These reported records are highly relevant because the February 2020 VA examination found no evidence of psychiatric disability during the appeal period. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Obtain treatment records from the Vet Center in Lakewood, New Jersey from June 2014 to the present. Make two attempts to obtain the records, unless it is clear a second attempt would be futile. KELLI A. KORDICH Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board T. Winkler, 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.