Citation Nr: 21002797 Decision Date: 01/15/21 Archive Date: 01/15/21 DOCKET NO. 17-28 778 DATE: January 15, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for hypertension is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for headaches is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for loss of concentration is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for fear of knives is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for loss of memory is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Navy from August 1988 to August 1992. For his meritorious service, the Veteran was awarded (among other decorations) the Southwest Asia Service Medal and the Kuwait Liberation Medal. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a July 2014 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In March 2020, the Veteran testified at a video conference hearing held before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. A transcript of this hearing has been added to the record. 1. Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is remanded. 2. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. 3. Entitlement to service connection for hypertension is remanded. 4. Entitlement to service connection for headaches is remanded. 5. Entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded. 6. Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded. 7. Entitlement to service connection for loss of concentration is remanded. 8. Entitlement to service connection for fear of knives is remanded. 9. Entitlement to service connection for loss of memory is remanded. During his March 2020 video conference hearing held before the Board, the Veteran identified relevant outstanding private and VA treatment records. A remand is required to allow VA to obtain authorization and request these records. Based upon a review of his service treatment records, along with consideration of the Veteran’s contentions at the March 2020 video conference hearing, the Board concludes that an examinaton should be conducted to determine if he currently has bilatearal hearing loss and tinnitus; and if so, to obtain an opinion as to the relationship of such condition to his military service. At the March 2020 video conference hearing, the Veteran indicated he served onboard a ship upon which other sailors passed away. He claims that his exposure to this inservice stressor incident has resulted in an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. He claims he currently has dreams concerning this incident. Under these circumstances, a remand is required to allow VA to attempt to corroborate the Veteran’s reported stressor; and if established, schedule the Veteran for the appropriate VA psychiatric examination. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Attempt to corroborate the Veteran’s claimed in-service stressor, including his having been onboard a ship upon which other sailors died. Contact the Veteran to request additional information needed for this purpose. 2. Ask the Veteran to provide the names and addresses of all medical care providers who have treated him for his claimed disabilities at any point since his discharge from military service in August 1992. This should include records from his private family physician and private sleep specialist, as well as VA medical treatment records (Las Vegas, Nevada). After securing any necessary releases, request any relevant records identified. If any requested records are unavailable, the Veteran should be notified of such. 3. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination for hearing loss and tinnitus. The examiner must review the claims file. Following the appropriate examination, the examiner must identify whether the Veteran currently has hearing loss for VA purposes and/or tinnitus. For any current condition found, the examiner must provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not related to his military service. Provide a rationale to support the opinion. In providing the requested opinion, consider the Veteran’s description of his in-service injury and symptoms as well as his post-service symptoms. If there is any medical reason to accept or reject the proposition that the Veteran’s reported injury and symptoms in service and thereafter represented the onset of his current disability, this should be noted. Stated another way, do the Veteran’s reports about his symptoms align with how the currently diagnosed disability is known to develop or are the Veteran’s reports generally inconsistent with medical knowledge or implausible? 4. If an in-service stressor is established, schedule the Veteran for a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder found, including PTSD. If any other acquired psychiatric disorders are diagnosed, the examiner must opine whether each diagnosed disorder is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. (Continued on next page) A complete rationale must be provided for all requested opinions. Evan M. Deichert Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board W. Yates, 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.