Citation Nr: 21039718 Decision Date: 07/01/21 Archive Date: 07/01/21 DOCKET NO. 15-19 561 DATE: July 1, 2021 REMANDED Issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from October 2006 to June 2007. This appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) arose from a January 2014 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). See June 2014 Notice of Disagreement (NOD); April 2015 Statement of the Case (SOC); June 2015 Substantive Appeal (VA Form 9). The Veteran testified before a Veterans Law Judge in an October 2018 hearing. See October 2018 Hearing transcript. In January 2020, the Board denied the claim. January 2020 Board decision The Veteran appealed the January 2020 Board decision to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) and, through a Joint Motion for Remand, the claim was remanded back to the Board to determine if VA fulfilled its duty to assist the Veteran. January 2021 CAVC decision. The Board notes that the Veterans Law Judge who conducted the October 2018 Board hearing is no longer employed by the Board. The Veteran was offered another opportunity for a hearing but declined. See May 2021 BVA Letter; May 2021 Hearing Request. Issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD is remanded. The Board finds that a remand of the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is required. The January 2021 CAVC decision held that it is unclear if VA made reasonable efforts to obtain evidence to validate the Veteran's asserted 2007 in-service stressor event. The Veteran asserts that when she was stationed at Camp Gieger in February 2007, she witnessed an E1 soldier in the same battalion, but different company, be bullied, told to sleep outside in the cold, and then either found dead or dying. July 2013 VA Form 21-0781. The Veteran asserts that she was required to do the person's laundry and pack it to be sent home to his mother and has been bothered by the incident since. Id. There is no indication in the claims file that the Regional Office (RO) attempt to obtain any available records of a death or incident to verify the Veteran's asserted stressor. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Attempt to corroborate the Veteran's in-service stressor, including that when she was stationed at Camp Gieger in February 2007, she witnessed an E1 soldier in the same battalion, but different company, be bullied, told to sleep outside in the cold, and then either found dead or dying. The RO should, if possible, attempt to obtain any battalion reports or other historical documents about a fatality at Camp Geiger in February or March 2007. If more details are needed, contact the Veteran to request the information. The RO should document all attempts to obtain the information in the claims file. R. FEINBERG Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board M. Lin 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.