Source: https://va-claim.com/2017/12/26/entitlement-to-service-connection-for-acquired-psychiatric-disability-and-entitlement-to-service-connection-for-mesothelioma-remanded-citation-nr-1648545/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 18:39:23+00:00

Document:
1.  Entitlement to service connection for acquired psychiatric disability.
2.  Entitlement to service connection for mesothelioma.
The Veteran served on active duty from April 1970 to January 1972.
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal of a February 2005 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in St. Louis, Missouri.  The Chicago, Illinois RO currently has jurisdiction of the case.
In June 2014, the Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge at a video conference hearing.  A transcript of the hearing is associated with the record.
In September 2016, the Veteran's attorney requested that the Veteran's appeal be advanced on the docket as the Veteran was being treated for terminal cancer.  The medical treatment records show that the Veteran is receiving treatment for pulmonary cancer.  In order to avoid further delay of the processing of the Veteran's case, the undersigned Veterans Law Judge granted a motion to advance this appeal on the Board's docket, pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 7017 (a)(2)(C) (West 2014) and 38 C.F.R. § 20.900 (c) (2016).
A January 2016 rating decision denied entitlement to service connection for mesothelioma.  A timely notice of disagreement was received by VA in November 2016.  38 C.F.R. § 20.201 (2016).  A remand is required for issuance of a Statement of the Case.  See Manlincon v. West, 12 Vet. App. 238 (1999).
Concerning the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, in correspondence dated in November 2016, the Veteran's attorney acknowledged the docketing of the Veteran's case at the Board and requested a video conference hearing.  While the Board recognizes that the Veteran participated in a hearing before the undersigned VLJ in June 2014, the Board finds that a remand is required to fulfill the Veteran's request for a new hearing.  38 C.F.R. § 20.704 (2016).  Further, in response to an October 2015 VA notice letter, which appears to be in reference to a pending claim for service connection for mesothelioma, the Veteran's attorney identified the receipt of medical treatment at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center and the Hines VA Medical Center.  VA medical treatment records from the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center are associated with the record.  While it is not clear whether the Veteran seeks treatment for his psychiatric disability at the Hines VA Medical Center, the claims folder contains earlier records from the Hines VA Medical Center, which show treatment for psychiatric symptoms.  Accordingly, the records must be requested and associated with the record.  See Bell v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 611 (1992).
1.  Issue a Statement of the Case with respect to the January 2016 rating decision and notice of disagreement therewith received in November 2016 as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for mesothelioma.  Notify the Veteran that to vest the Board with jurisdiction over the issue, a timely substantive appeal must be filed. 38 C.F.R. § 20.202 (2016).  If the Veteran perfects an appeal, return the issue to the Board for appellate review.
2.  Request all VA medical treatment records from the Hines VA Medical Center.
3.  Readjudicate the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.  If the benefit sought remains denied, issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case and allow time for response.
4.  Thereafter, schedule the Veteran for a video conference hearing at the AOJ before a Veterans Law Judge, unless otherwise indicated.  Provide the Veteran with notice of the date, time and location of his hearing.

References: § 7017
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