Citation Nr: 21011021 Decision Date: 02/26/21 Archive Date: 02/26/21 DOCKET NO. 19-31 375 DATE: February 26, 2021 REMANDED Service connection for a cervical spine disorder is remanded. Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is remanded. Service connection for a right knee disorder is remanded. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran, who is the appellant, served on active duty from December 1965 to October 1967. 1. Service connection for a cervical spine disorder is remanded. 2. Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is remanded. 3. Service connection for a right knee disorder is remanded. The Veteran generally seeks service connection for a cervical spine disorder, a lumbar spine disorder, and a right knee disorder as caused or aggravated by service. VA treatment records reflect that the Veteran receives treatment for the above claimed conditions from private providers. The Veteran authorized VA to obtain private treatment records from several private providers in December 2017; however, it does not appear that the relevant private treatment records have been provided or associated with the claims file. As such, the Board finds that remand is necessary for the Veteran to provide any relevant private treatment records or information regarding such private provider(s) so private treatment records can be requested on the Veteran’s behalf. 4. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded. The Veteran asserts two primary events that occurred during service resulted in the current acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression. Specifically, during the August 2020 Board hearing, the Veteran credibly testified that while he was stationed in Korea, he witnessed two civilians get electrocuted. The Veteran also testified to riding in a vehicle that ran over a child, but that the driver would not stop the vehicle due to safety concerns. A review of the record reveals that, because the claimed in-service stressor events could not be verified, VA did not provide a VA examination to assess the claimed PTSD. However, VA treatment records indicate the Veteran is also diagnosed with depression, which has a lower evidentiary standard to support a service connection disability claim. As such, the Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain a VA examination assessing the current acquired psychiatric disorder of depression, and whether depression is related to service. The matters are REMANDED for the following actions: 1. Contact the Veteran and request he identify the names, addresses, and approximate dates of treatment for all private health care providers who have treated him for the cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and right knee disorder, and provide appropriate authorizations so the RO can request these records. The RO should request copies of any private treatment records identified by the Veteran that have not been previously secured and associate them with the electronic record. All reasonable attempts should be made to obtain these records. If identified records are not ultimately obtained, the Veteran should be notified pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(e). 2. Schedule a VA examination in order to assess all the Veteran’s current acquired psychiatric disorders. The VA examiner should diagnose all acquired psychiatric disorders and then provide the below opinion. A rationale for all opinions and a discussion of the facts and medical principles involved should be provided. For each of the diagnosed psychiatric disorder(s), the VA examiner should provide the following opinion: Is it is at least as likely as not (i.e. probability of 50 percent or greater) that any such acquired psychiatric disorder is related to the Veteran’s reported stressors, to include witnessing two civilians being electrocuted and riding in a vehicle that ran over a child? J. PARKER Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board E. Choi, 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.