Citation Nr: 21029365 Decision Date: 05/13/21 Archive Date: 05/13/21 DOCKET NO. 19-06 338A DATE: May 13, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, unspecified bipolar disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder, and unspecified personality disorder, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from January 1964 to January 1966, including service in Vietnam. This appeal was previously before the Board in July 2020 when it was remanded to obtain any outstanding treatment records since 1995, associate certain records with the claims file, obtain updated treatment records from the Cheyenne VA Medical Center (VAMC) from 1984 to the present, and provide a VA examination to determine the current nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder. The record indicates that VA contacted the Veteran in August 2020 correspondence to request the names, addresses, and approximate date for all treatment providers from 1995 to the present. The Veteran responded later that same month and provided a filled in VA Form 21-4142a general release form. VA requested a contract examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disability to include those noted above. That said, the claims file also includes a February 2021 VA Form 27-0820 report of general information wherein the Veteran called to report he arrived for the scheduled January 2021 contract examination and was placed in a room by the provider who did not return. The Veteran also reported that approximately 30 minutes later, the receptionist told him that the facility could not help, and he had to leave. The Veteran requested his examination be rescheduled with a different provider. The Board notes that VA was subsequently informed by the contract examiner that the examination was cancelled at the Veteran's request. Given the nature of the claim and the confusion regarding why the January 2021 examination did not occur, the Board finds that there is good cause for additional efforts to be undertaken to provide the Veteran with a VA examination related to his claim for entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. 38 C.F.R. § 3.655. The Veteran should be afforded a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disability. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Schedule the Veteran for a VA medical examination to ascertain the current nature and etiology of his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims file must be reviewed by the examiner. Regarding non-PTSD diagnoses noted in treatment records, specifically major depression disorder, bipolar disorder, adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features, dysthymia, anxiety disorder, and mixed personality disorder, the examiner should opine whether these are valid diagnoses. The examiner is then asked to provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) that any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder is etiologically related to the Veteran's active service. For any diagnosed personality disorder, the examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not such disorder was aggravated by the Veteran's claimed stressor events in Vietnam. If aggravation is found, the examiner should specify the baseline level of severity of the personality disorder before the chronic worsening and the level of severity of the personality disorder after the chronic worsening All opinions must be supported by a thorough rationale. A. C. MACKENZIE Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board B. Banks, 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.