Citation Nr: 21026545
Decision Date: 05/03/21	Archive Date: 05/03/21

DOCKET NO. 16-34 367
DATE: May 3, 2021

REMANDED

Service connection an acquired psychiatric disability (to include an insomnia disorder) is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran had honorable active military service from October 1984 to November 1988. The Veteran also had active military service from December 1988 to March 1990 that is dishonorable for VA purposes. 

This matter is before the Board of Veterans Appeals (Board) on appeal from an April 2015 rating decision. 

In October 2018 and July 2019, the Board remanded this matter for additional development. Following the Board's July 2019 remand, the Veteran was afforded a VA psychological examination in December 2019. The examiner determined that the Veteran did not meet the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD and that his diagnosed alcohol abuse disorder was less likely than not related to his service. 

In March 2020, the Veteran submitted a statement in support of his claim for service connection for PTSD alleging that he has psychiatric trauma from an in-service assault by a fellow boiler technician. Another VA psychological examination was undertaken in April 2020 and the Veteran was newly diagnosed with an insomnia disorder with pertinent symptoms of chronic sleep impairment and disturbances of motivation and mood. The examiner opined in an August 2020 VA medical opinion that the Veteran still did not meet the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD based on diagnostic testing performed during the April 2020 examination. However, no VA medical opinion was offered with respect to whether the Veteran's insomnia disorder may be causally related to his service. 

Consequently, a remand is required to obtain an addendum opinion to address this potentiality.

The matter is REMANDED for the following action:

1. Associate the Veteran's VA treatment records to the claims file.

2. Obtain a VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's insomnia disorder, preferably from the VA examiner who completed the April 2020 VA psychological examination report, if possible. If this is not possible, the opinion should be rendered by another appropriate examiner. The claims file, including a copy of this Remand, must be made available to, and be reviewed by, the examiner. If another examination is deemed to be required, one should be provided to the Veteran.

(Continued on the next page)

 

After a review of the entire claims file, the examiner is asked to provide an opinion as to whether the Veteran's insomnia disorder at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) had its onset during service (the period of honorable active military service from October 1984 to November 1988) or is otherwise related to service.

A complete rationale for all requested opinions is required.

 

 

Jennifer White

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	Kyle McKone

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.