Citation Nr: 21073013 Decision Date: 12/07/21 Archive Date: 12/07/21 DOCKET NO. 18-35 923 DATE: December 7, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with alcohol dependence and traumatic brain injury (TBI) with cognitive disorder is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from October 2010 to February 2013. He received an under honorable discharge from this period of service. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from an October 2014 rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran testified at a hearing before the undersigned in May 2021. The transcript is of record. Entitlement to service connection for PTSD with alcohol dependence and TBI with cognitive disorder is remanded. The Veteran has since provided additional details regarding his main stressor event during service in support of his PTSD claim. Specifically, the Veteran submitted official statements made to the German police related to the assault during active service that started April 30, 2011 and ended May 1, 2011. See March 2019 Military Personnel Record. Previously, except for the Veteran's subjective statements regarding the in-service personal assault, there were no other records related to the claimed event. In a July 2018 substantive appeal, the Veteran also asserted that VA failed to obtain evidence verifying his in-service stressor. See July 2018 Form 9. An April 2014 correspondence from VA noted a formal finding on the unavailability of the Veteran's service treatment records. See October 2014 DPRIS Response. The Veteran reported during the May 2021 Board hearing that the aforementioned in-service assault resulted in his increased hostility, withdrawal, and isolation. The Veteran also reported that his alcohol use increased after the assault. See May 2021 Hearing Transcript. The Board finds that the Veteran provided sufficient information regarding the date, location, and description of the alleged in-service stressor. Thus, the appropriate records repository should be requested to verify the aforementioned assault and to also contact other appropriate sources to corroborate the Veteran's stressor that he was assaulted by multiple Germans and Russians in April 2011 to May 2011. Relevant evidence that may be requested includes, but is not limited to German police reports stemming from the incident that occurred from April 2011 to May 2011. Any additional action necessary for independent verification of this stressor, to include follow-up action requested by the contacted entity, should be accomplished. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain any outstanding VA treatment records not yet associated with the claims file. 2. Contact the appropriate records repository and conduct any further development necessary to verify the Veteran's reported in-service stressor in Germany. The stressor occurred from April 30, 2011 to May 1, 2011 when the Veteran was allegedly attacked by several Germans and Russians in Schillingsfurst, Germany. 3. Contact other appropriate sources, to include the Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber German police station, to corroborate the Veteran's stressor that he was assaulted by multiple Germans and Russians in April 2011 to May 2011. Relevant evidence that may be requested include, but are not limited to, German police reports stemming from the incident that occurred from April 30, 2011 to May 1, 2011. 4. Any additional action necessary for independent verification of this stressor, to include follow-up action requested by the contacted entity, should be accomplished. 5. Any negative responses must be documented in the claims file. S. HENEKS Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board J. Cheng, 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.