Citation Nr: 21011858 Decision Date: 03/02/21 Archive Date: 03/02/21 DOCKET NO. 18-39 610 DATE: March 2, 2021 REMANDED The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder (MDD) is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from December 1952 to September 1954. In January 2020, this appeal was remanded by the Board for additional development. For the reasons outline below, the Board finds that remand is again needed in this matter. The Board acknowledges receipt of a “buddy statement” in April 2018. This statement is from a friend and neighbor of the Veteran, who is also a retired VSO for the Veteran’s current representative. The statement indicates that VA has some of the Veteran’s service records “and it would be helpful if you could provide [the Veteran] with a copy. (Treatment Records from July 2 1952 through September 25, 1954)”. As this request does not appear to be from the Veteran’s representative, the Board does not treat the statement as a request for documents from the Veteran. Accordingly, the Board will not delay the matter, and will proceed with development of the Veteran’s appeal. Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and MDD. The Board finds that remand is again needed in this matter. The January 2020 Board remand asked that the Veteran be rescheduled for a VA examination. The Veteran’s August 2019 VA examination had been cancelled because the Veteran was hospitalized, and he was in a nursing home with an unknown discharge. The January 2020 Board remand directed that, to the extent possible, the VA examination should be scheduled at the nursing home, or transportation should be provided to the VA examination. Following the remand, it appears that the VA examination was cancelled because the Veteran is bedridden, and his nursing facility was not allowing appointments. See Exam Scheduling Request Modification, July 2020. In the February 2021 IHP, the Veteran’s representative indicates that appointments at the nursing home facility had been discontinued due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Veteran’s representative has asked that the Board remand this matter to enable the Veteran to be examined. The Board agrees that remand is appropriate given the circumstances and will once again remand to afford the Veteran the opportunity for a VA examination. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: 1. After securing any necessary consent forms from the Veteran, obtain any outstanding treatment records, to include any VA and/or private treatment records, pertaining to the issue on appeal. All efforts should be documented in the claim file. If any records could not be obtained, this should be noted in the claim file. 2. Upon completion of the above, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to clarify the diagnosis of his claimed psychiatric disability and to address the etiology of any diagnosed disability(ies). For each disability diagnosed, the examiner is asked to address whether it is at least as likely as not (i.e., a 50 percent or greater probability) that it was caused by the Veteran’s active duty service. If a PTSD diagnosis is deemed appropriate, the examiner should then comment upon the link between the current symptomatology and any confirmed in-service stressors. The examiner is asked to specifically address the conceded combat stressors, and the Veteran’s April 2018 statement that his “family noticed a change in me when it snowed.” The VA examiner should be given access to the claim file. The examiner should state that a review of the claim file was completed. The examiner must provide a comprehensive report including complete rationales for all opinions and conclusions reached, citing the objective medical findings leading to the conclusions. A detailed rationale is requested for all opinions provided. The Board notes that the Veteran is currently in a nursing home facility. To the extent possible, the VA examination should be scheduled at the nursing home, or appropriate transportation to the VA examination should be provided for the Veteran. (Continued on next page)   3. If upon completion of the above action the issue is, the case should be returned to the Board after compliance with appellate procedures. E. I. VELEZ Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board K. Foster, 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.