Citation Nr: 21072327
Decision Date: 12/02/21	Archive Date: 12/02/21

DOCKET NO. 18-37 372
DATE: December 2, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to a service-connected left wrist disorder, is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from May 1965 to May 1968.

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a June 2017 rating decision by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).

In September 2021, the Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. A transcript of the hearing is of record.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to a service-connected left wrist disorder.

The Board finds an addendum opinion is required regarding whether the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder was aggravated by his service-connected left wrist disorder. In this regard, while the Veteran submitted a statement from his private physician in July 2018 linking his left wrist disorder to his acquired psychiatric disorder, a rationale was not provided. Therefore, the Board may not rely on that opinion. A May 2018 VA opinion found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not caused by his service-connected left wrist disorder; however, his rationale did not address aggravation. On remand, an adequate opinion must be obtained.

Further, the record indicates that there are outstanding private treatment records, identified during the hearing. Accordingly, appropriate action to obtain those records, along with updated VA treatment records, should be taken while on remand.

The matter is REMANDED for the following action:

1. Obtain updated VA treatment records.

2. Take appropriate action to obtain authorization from the Veteran to request his private treatment records, to include records from Liberty Family Physicians. Make at least two (2) attempts to obtain records from any identified sources. If any such records are unavailable, inform the Veteran and afford him an opportunity to submit any copies in his possession.

3. Obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate medical professional as to the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.

Following a review of the claims file, the examiner should offer an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is aggravated by his service-connected left wrist disorder.

 

Any opinion must be supported by a full rationale.

 

 

L. M. BARNARD

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	A.Z., 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.