Citation Nr: 21003140
Decision Date: 01/19/21	Archive Date: 01/19/21

DOCKET NO. 17-08 373
DATE: January 19, 2021

REMANDED

The claim for service connection for schizophrenia is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran had active duty from July 1983 to February 1989.

In August 2019, the Veteran had a hearing before the undersigned; a transcript is of record.

This matter was remanded in December 2019.

Service connection for schizophrenia 

The Veteran claims entitlement to service connection for schizophrenia. He states that he experienced schizophrenia symptoms during military that continued until his formal diagnosis of this disability, a year and four months after service discharge. 

In the February 2020 VA examination opinion obtained upon prior Board remand and in a later addendum, the examiner improperly relies on the lack of documentation and does not address the Veteran’s statements that the manifestations began earlier in providing a negative opinion. The Board finds that only direct service connection need be readdressed upon remand.

The matter is REMANDED for the following action:

1. Update VA treatment records.

2. Thereafter, obtain an addendum opinion by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of the diagnosed schizophrenia. This opinion should be provided by a different examiner than the examiner who provided the prior February 2020 examination and addendum opinion. 

After review of the record, and specific consideration of the Veteran’s lay statements regarding initial onset of symptoms in service, the examiner should opine whether the diagnosed schizophrenia at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) began during active service or manifested within in one year of discharge from service. The opinion should be based on all evidence of record and not only what is documented in the service treatment records. The need for additional examination is left to the discretion of the examiner. 

 

Nathaniel Doan

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.