Citation Nr: 18144078 Decision Date: 10/23/18 Archive Date: 10/23/18 DOCKET NO. 17-05 535 DATE: October 23, 2018 REMANDED Service connection for residuals of a chest wound is remanded.   REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from September 1977 to February 1982. The case is on appeal from an August 2013 rating decision. In October 2018, the Veteran testified at a Board hearing. Service connection for residuals of a chest wound. The Veteran contends that he has residual disability in his left lung and chest due to an in-service stab wound. In this regard, during the October 2018 Board hearing, he reported being stabbed in the left side of his chest while on leave in Hawaii. He also reported that his left lung collapsed as a result of the stab wound. His service treatment records (STRs) show that in July 1981 he was noted to have sustained a wound to the left side of his chest that required sutures and healed well. The Veteran’s post-service VA treatment records show that he was treated for a left lung pneumothorax in January 1983 that required implantation of two chest tubes to resolve. In July 2013, the Veteran was afforded an examination in regard to the scar he sustained as a result of being stabbed in the chest. However, on remand an examination should be conducted to determine if the Veteran experiences other residual disability from such injury, including of the lungs. See McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79, 81 (2006). In addition, it does not appear that all STRs have been associated with the file. Thus, on remand the RO should locate and associate with the record all outstanding STRs or service personnel records (SPRs). Furthermore, the Veteran should be asked to identify the treatment provider that treated him for his stab wound while on leave in Hawaii and provide authorization for the VA to obtain such records. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: 1. Afford the Veteran an opportunity to submit or identify any outstanding relevant treatment records, to include for his stab wound he sustained while on leave in Hawaii. Obtain any identified records with the use of the Veteran’s authorization as necessary. If such records are unavailable, the file must be clearly documented to that effect and the Veteran notified in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(e). 2. Contact the appropriate service department and/or records custodian(s), to include the National Personnel Records Center, with a request for copies of the Veteran’s complete STRs and SPRs, to include during any National Guard or reserve service following his discharge from active duty service. All reasonable attempts should be made to obtain such records. If any records cannot be obtained after reasonable efforts have been made, issue a formal determination that such records do not exist or that further efforts to obtain such records would be futile, which should be documented in the claims file. The Veteran must be notified of the attempts made and why further attempts would be futile, and allowed the opportunity to provide such records, as provided in 38 U.S.C. § 5103A(b)(2) and 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(e). 3. Obtain complete VA treatment records from April 2018. 4. After completing the records development indicated above, schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination to address the nature and etiology of all of the Veteran’s residuals of a chest wound. The entire claims file should be reviewed by the examiner. The examiner is to identify all disorders experienced by the Veteran during the period on appeal (since October 2012) as a residual to an in-service stab wound to his chest and left lung, including any affecting the lungs. A detailed rationale for all opinions expressed should be provided. RYAN T. KESSEL Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD D. Jimerfield, Associate Counsel