Citation Nr: 21065534 Decision Date: 10/26/21 Archive Date: 10/26/21 DOCKET NO. 15-07 842 DATE: October 26, 2021 REMANDED Service connection for a psychiatric disorder. Service connection for alcohol abuse. Service connection for a liver disease. Service connection for a spleen condition. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from November 1962 to January 1963. The case is on appeal from an October 2014 rating decision. In March 2018, the Veteran testified at a Travel Board hearing. The case was last before the Board in February 2021. At that time, the Board remanded the issues of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, alcohol abuse, liver disease, and a spleen condition for further development. Service Connection 1. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board find there was not substantial compliance with the Board's February 2021 remand directives where the Board directed the RO to obtain a new VA medical opinion. See Stegall v. West, 11 Vet. App. 268, 271 (1998). The Board observed that an earlier VA examination did not discuss whether the Veteran's articulated worry and anxiety during service and/or behaviors the Veteran exhibited during service, may have been manifestations of his diagnosed depressive disorder or another clinically diagnosed disorder. Upon remand, a new VA examination and medical opinion were provided in June 2021. The examiner's rationale focused on the Veteran's lack of treatment in-service and post-service until 2013. Thus, the examiner failed to acknowledge the Veteran's articulated in-service symptoms of depression, anxiety, and worry. Additionally, the examiner did not address how the Veteran's negative experience during service has led to recurring memories which exacerbate his psychiatric symptoms, including problems with sleep and irritability. Therefore, the Board finds a remand is warranted to determine the etiology and clarify the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is related to service. In light of the remand, updated VA treatment records should be obtained. 2. Service connection for alcohol abuse. 3. Service connection for liver disease. 4. Service connection for spleen. The intertwined issues of service connection for associated alcoholism, liver disease, and spleen disease are also remanded. See Harris v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 180, 183 (1991). The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain outstanding VA treatment records dated from June 2020. 2. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination (or telehealth interview, review of the record, etc. if an in-person examination is not feasible) by an appropriate medical professional to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder. The examiner must review the file. The examiner should also discuss the Veteran's in-service and current complaints and symptoms with the Veteran and document the Veteran's assertions in the examination report. After clinical assessment, the examiner should opine, for each psychiatric disorder found on examination and in prior medical records (including depressive disorder and anxiety), whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the disorder had its onset during active-duty service or, if the disorder began after service, is related to service. A complete rationale should be provided for any opinion reached. Consideration should be given to the Veteran's lay statements about his experiencing depression, anxiety, and worry during service. RYAN T. KESSEL Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board S. Becton, 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.