Citation Nr: 21008228 Decision Date: 02/12/21 Archive Date: 02/12/21 DOCKET NO. 17-06 696 DATE: February 12, 2021 REMANDED Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and bipolar disorder with manic depression, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps from January 1966 to January 1968. The issue is on appeal from a September 2013 rating decision. The Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) notes that the Veteran was scheduled for a hearing in November 2020. However, he failed to appear for his hearing and has yet to submit a request to reschedule. Thus, due to the Veteran’s no-show, the hearing request is considered withdrawn. See 38 C.F.R. § 20.704(d). Finally, the Board has recharacterized the service connection claim for PTSD and bipolar disorder claims as an acquired psychiatric condition in order to more fully account for the diagnoses received by the Veteran in his VA examination and other medical records. See Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1 (2009). The change has been reflected on the above title page.   Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and bipolar disorder with manic depression, is remanded. The Veteran was afforded an Initial PTSD VA examination in September 2016. The examiner diagnosed the Veteran with unspecified bipolar disorder, alcohol use disorder in sustained remission, and cocaine use disorder in sustained remission. The examiner opined that the Veteran’s diagnoses were less likely than not due to his active duty. However, the examiner did not provide any rationale for her opinions. An adequate medical opinion with regard to etiology should consist of a thorough review of the claims file and discussion of the relevant evidence (including the disability in question), a consideration of the lay contentions of the Veteran, and clear conclusions with a supporting rationale. Barr v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 303, 311-12 (2007); Stefl v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 120, 123 (2007); Nieves-Rodriguez v. Peake, 22 Vet. App. 295, 301 (2008). Accordingly, the Board finds a remand is warranted to determine whether the Veteran’s acquired psychiatric condition is at least as likely as not caused by his active duty. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain an addendum opinion from the same VA examiner who conducted the September 2016 examination or another physician of sufficient background and expertise. The claims file should be reviewed by the examiner(s). The examiner is asked to provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (i.e. 50 percent or greater) that the Veteran’s acquired psychiatric disorder is due to an in-service injury or incident. The examiner must provide a complete rationale for all opinions expressed. As part of the rationale, the examiner should identify and explain the relevance or significance, as appropriate, of any history, clinical findings, medical knowledge or literature, etc., relied upon in reaching the conclusion(s). A discussion of the facts and medical principles involved would be of considerable assistance to the Board. If the examiner cannot provide the requested opinion without resorting to speculation, it must be so stated, and the examiner must provide the reasons why an opinion would require speculation. The examiner must indicate whether there was any further need for information or testing necessary to make a determination. The examiner must indicate whether an opinion could not be rendered due to limitations of knowledge in the medical community at large and not those of the particular examiner. 2. Readjudicate the appeal. L. M. BARNARD Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board J. Lee 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.