Citation Nr: 18146763
Decision Date: 11/01/18	Archive Date: 11/01/18

DOCKET NO. 14-16 174
DATE:	November 1, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to payment or reimbursement for medical expenses incurred due to non-VA care at Mental Health Resource Center (MHRC) on June 4, 2013 is remanded.
Entitlement to payment or reimbursement for medical expenses incurred due to non-VA care at St. Vincent’s Medical Center (SMC) from June 10, 2013 to June 11, 2013 is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from April 2001 to September 2005. 
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from August and November 2013 decisions of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System. 
In January 2015, the Veteran testified at a Board hearing before the undersigned.  A transcript is of record. 
In July 2015, the Board remanded the case for additional development. 

Entitlement to payment or reimbursement for medical expenses incurred due to non-VA care at MHRC and SMC is remanded.
The claims file currently does not contain several documents material to the adjudication of the claims.  These missing records comprise two separate paper files, see July 2015 Board remand, which include August and November 2013 decisions on appeal, a notice of disagreement, a statement of the case, a substantive appeal, and private treatment records.  The Board has made numerous administrative attempts to obtain these records, but was unsuccessful.  Given the relevance of these records, the Board must remand the case to obtain these missing paper files.    
The matters are REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain the two separate paper files associated with the issues of entitlement to payment or reimbursement for medical expenses incurred due to non-VA care at MHRC and SMC. 
Efforts to obtain these records must continue until they are received; unless it is reasonably certain that they do not exist or further efforts would be futile.
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2. If the benefits sought on appeal remain denied, issue a supplemental statement of the case.  The case should then be returned to the Board, if otherwise in order.
 
MARJORIE A. AUER
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	S. Kim, Associate Counsel