Citation Nr: 21008741 Decision Date: 02/17/21 Archive Date: 02/17/21 DOCKET NO. 16-33 098 DATE: February 17, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from July 1975 to April 1978 and from April 1978 to April 1982. The Veteran had a virtual hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in January 2021. A transcript of the hearing is of record. Entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded. The record shows that the Veteran filed the current claim for service connection in March 2012. In a January 2013, VA Form 21-3101, Request for Information, the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) requested the Veteran’s medical and dental records and her entire personnel file. It listed the Veteran’s dates of service as April 1978 to April 1982 and listed her name as LRM. A February 2013 response documents that all available requested records were mailed and a receipt date shows they were received in March 2013. The July 2013 rating decision on appeal listed the evidence considered in connection with the claim, which included, “Service treatment records and personnel records for period of service from April 18, 1978, to April 17, 1982.” In an April 2016 Deferred Rating Decision, the Decision Review Officer noted that the service treatment and personnel records identified in the July 2013 rating decision were not in the Veterans Benefits Management System or Virtual VA and that, “[A]ccording to the scanning vendor[,] they were not with the C-file when it was scanned.” Thus, it appears that the service treatment and personnel records received in March 2013 were no longer part of the Veteran’s claims file. That same month, in April 2016, VA wrote to the Veteran asking her is she had any copies of her service treatment or personnel records from her periods of service from July 1975 to April 1978 and from April 1978 to April 1982. The Veteran did not respond. In reviewing the January 2013 VA Form 21-3101, the Board can see that when the AOJ requested the Veteran’s service medical and personnel records, it included only the second period active duty and the Veteran’s name during that period of active duty, which began with the letter M. However, the DD Form 214 from the Veteran’s first period of service from July 1975 to April 1978 shows that the Veteran’s last name began with a Z (the Veteran had gotten married and changed her last name during her second period active duty). Thus, the Board believes there may be service medical and personnel records that were not obtained that may be relevant to the issue on appeal. Since the claim is being remanded to obtain the service treatment and personnel records from the first period of service, the AOJ might as well request records from both periods of service, as there may be records from the second period of service. Additionally, of record are VA treatment records from July 2011 to March 2016. The July 2011 treatment records show that the Veteran was there for a “follow[ ]up” appointment. This leads the Board to conclude that the Veteran was first seen by VA prior to July 2011. Thus, the Board will request that the AOJ obtain the VA treatment records from January 2011 to the present to ensure that all VA treatment records are in the file. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: 1. Request service treatment records and service personnel records for both periods of service from July 1975 to April 1978 and from April 1978 to April 1982. The request must include both last names that are shown on the two DD Forms 214: LRZ and LRM. 2. Obtain VA treatment records from January 2011 to the present and associate them with the claims file. A. P. SIMPSON Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board P. McDaniels, 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.