Citation Nr: 18143787
Decision Date: 10/22/18	Archive Date: 10/22/18

DOCKET NO. 16-33 051
DATE:	October 22, 2018
ORDER
Entitlement to service connection for a right hip disability, to include as secondary to a service-connected right foot disability, is remanded.
REMAND
The Veteran served in the New Mexico Air National Guard. As indicated below, the extent of his periods of active service for VA purposes is subject to development on remand.
The Veteran has claimed that his right hip disability was incurred secondary to a service-connected right foot disability or aggravated by his periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA). Although the claims file contains some service personnel records relating to the Veteran’s periods of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA, including a Chronological Statement of Retirement Points, there is no document that reflects the precise dates when the Veteran served in an ACDUTRA or an INACDUTRA capacity. This information is necessary in addressing the Veteran’s contentions that his disabilities were related to his ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA service.
Accordingly, the case is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Contact the appropriate entities, including the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) and the Joint Service Records Research Center (JSRRC), and request verification of all dates of active duty, ACDUTRA, INACDUTRA that the Veteran has had with the Air Force, New Mexico Air National Guard, or other military branch or component. Reports of retirement points are not sufficient to meet the requirement of this Remand order. A listing of specific dates of service and whether within those dates the service can be characterized as active, ACDUTRA, INACDUTRA is required. All information obtained in this regard must be added to the record. If any such information cannot be obtained, the reasons therefor must be fully documented and associated with the Veteran’s claims file.
2. Obtain copies of the complete updated VA and private medical records of all evaluations and treatment the Veteran received for his right hip pain. As needed, signed release forms for private records should be obtained. All requests for records and responses must be associated with the claims folder.
All information obtained in this regard must be added to the record. If no additional records are located, a written statement to that effect should be incorporated into the record and documented as required by 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(c).
3. After completing the above, schedule the Veteran for the appropriate VA examination with an examiner who has reviewed the entire claims file. The examiner is requested to address all right hip diagnoses reflected in the private, VA and other medical evidence of record and to reconcile all current diagnostic findings (or lack thereof) with any conflicting evidence in the record. If any prior diagnosis is not found to be warranted, this must be explained in detail. All opinions must be supported by a detailed rationale.
Specifically, the examiner is asked to address whether: 
a. It is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent probability or greater) that any right hip disability is etiologically related to a disease or injury incurred or aggravated in active duty or any period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA).
b. It is at least as likely as not that any right hip disability is etiologically related to an injury incurred or aggravated during inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA) (the Board notes that only injuries, and not diseases, are recognized under 38 U.S.C. § 101(24) for establishing service-connection related to periods of INACDUTRA).
c. It is at least as likely as not that any right hip disability was caused or aggravated by the service-connected right foot disability.
 
A. C. MACKENZIE
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	B. Banks, Associate Counsel