Citation Nr: 21041824 Decision Date: 07/10/21 Archive Date: 07/10/21 DOCKET NO. 16-51 660 DATE: July 10, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a recurrent psychiatric disability, to include bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from October 1977 to November 1977. Entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder, is remanded. The Veteran asserts that service connection for a recurrent psychiatric disability is warranted as the claimed disability was initially manifested during active service or, in the alternative, pre-existed service entrance and was aggravated during active service. The service treatment records do not refer to a recurrent psychiatric disability for which service connection may be granted. The report of a November 1977 Naval Aptitude Board states that the Veteran exhibited no evidence of a psychosis or disabling neurosis. He was diagnosed with a personality disorder and recommended for discharge due to unsuitability. Personality disorders do not constitute disabilities for which Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) compensation benefits may be awarded. 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.303 (c), 4.127. An October 2014 Social Security Administration (SSA) Administrative Law Judge opinion awarded the Veteran SSA disability benefits effective as of October 2013. The evidence considered by the SSA in granting the Veteran's claim is not of record. VA's duty to assist the Veteran includes an obligation to obtain the records from the SSA. Masors v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 181, 187 188 (1992). The report of a September 2015 VA psychiatric examination states that the Veteran "has been hospitalized at Bethany Hospital in 1986 in Chicago;" "he was sent to Bobbi E. Wright mental health for further care;" "has been Loretta Hospital in 1987 in Chicago;" "has been to be Hines VA hospital in 1987;" "has been to Benton Harbor Hospital psych unit in 1990;" "has been at the Kalamazoo State Hospital in 1990;" "has been in the Lansing CMH crisis program called Bridges on several occasion;" "has been hospitalized numerous other times over the years;" and "also received treatment in prison with psych meds and counselling with group therapy." Clinical documentation of the cited VA, prison, and private psychiatric treatment is not of record. VA should obtain all relevant VA and private treatment records which could potentially be helpful in resolving the Veteran's claim. Murphy v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 78 (1990); Bell v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 611 (1992). The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Ask the Veteran to complete a VA Form 21-4142 for each private healthcare provider who has treated any psychiatric disability. Make two requests for the authorized records from all identified healthcare providers unless it is clear after the first request that a second request would be futile. 2. Obtain any VA treatment records not of record, to include those pertaining to treatment at Hines VA Medical Center in 1987. 3. Contact the SSA and request copies of all records developed in association with the Veteran's award of disability benefits. J. T. HUTCHESON Acting Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board F. Lanton, 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.