Citation Nr: 18140942
Decision Date: 10/09/18	Archive Date: 10/09/18

DOCKET NO. 16-24 724
DATE:	October 9, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from September 1976 to June 1979 and June 1979 to July 1982. The Veteran passed away in December 2014, and the appellant is his surviving spouse.
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from a June 2015 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).
The appellant’s authorized representative withdrew from representation in January 2016. The appellant is unrepresented in the instant appeal.
1. Entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is remanded.
The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death. The Veteran’s death certificate lists the immediate cause of death as hypertensive heart disease. At the time of his death, the Veteran was service-connected for hallux valgus right foot, status-post bunionectomy and major depressive disorder.
A VA medical opinion has not been obtained with respect to the appellant’s service connection claim for the cause of the Veteran’s death. An opinion would aid in adjudicating this claim. 
Additionally, the Veteran’s death certificate from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control reveals that an autopsy was done. An attempt to obtain such report should be made.
The matter is REMANDED for the following actions:
1. Ask the appellant to provide the names and addresses of all medical care providers who treated the Veteran prior to his death. After securing any necessary releases, request any relevant records identified that are not duplicates of those contained in the claims file. If any requested records are unavailable, the appellant should   be notified of such.
2. Request a copy of the Veteran’s autopsy report through appropriate sources. If an authorization form      is needed from the appellant to request such report, the appellant should be asked to provide one. If the autopsy report cannot be obtained, the claims file should be annotated to reflect such and the appellant notified          of such.
3. After the above development has been completed        to the extent possible, provide the claims file to an appropriate VA examiner to obtain an opinion with respect to the claim for service connection for the      cause of the Veteran’s death.
After a review of the claims file, the examiner should provide the following opinions:
(a.) Is it at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran’s hypertensive heart disease arose in service            or was otherwise related to service? Please   explain why or why not, to include addressing     the Veteran’s service treatment records pertaining to blood pressure levels.
(b.) If not, is it at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities (depressive disorder          and hallux valgus, status post bunionectomy) contributed substantially or materially to, or hastened, the Veteran’s death? Please explain    why or why not.
 
K. A. BANFIELD
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	M. C. Birder, Associate Counsel