Citation Nr: 18148698 Decision Date: 11/08/18 Archive Date: 11/07/18 DOCKET NO. 17-50 632 DATE: November 8, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a skin condition of the scalp, hands, and feet is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for lump condition affecting the wrist, thighs, and armpits is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for migraine condition is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for alcohol dependence, to include secondary to service-connected disability is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from November 1976 until May 1979. These appeals come to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) from the June 2016 and July 2016 rating decisions. Entitlement to service connection for COPD, skin condition, lump condition, migraine condition, and alcohol dependence is remanded. The Board notes that the Veteran was not provided VA medical opinions in regard to his claimed conditions. VA's duty to assist requires it to provide an adequate medical examination and/or obtain a medical opinion if the evidence is not sufficient to decide the claim. However; in order for the duty to assist to be triggered, the following must be present: (A) competent lay or medical evidence of a current disability, persistent, or recurrent symptoms of a disability, (B) evidence establishing the Veteran suffered an event, injury, or disease or symptoms of a disease, and (C) evidence indicating that the claimed disability or symptoms may be associated with the established event, injury, or disease in service. 38 C.F.R. § 3.159 (c)(4)(i). The Board finds that the requirements have been met in order to trigger the VA's duty to assist for the reasons stated below. In this case, without adequate medical examinations and medical opinions regarding to the Veteran's claimed conditions, the Board finds the current evidence to be insufficient to decide the claims. Therefore, VA medical examinations and medical opinions are required by VA's duty to assist the Veteran in developing evidence to substantiate his claims to service connection. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Request the appellant to identify all medical providers (VA and private) from whom he has received treatment for his claimed conditions; complete and return a provided VA Form 21-4142, Authorization and Consent to Release Information, for the identified treatment records. After obtaining completed VA Forms 21-4142, the AOJ should attempt to obtain all identified pertinent medical records and associate them with the claims file. 2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed COPD. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran has COPD related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. 3. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed skin condition. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran has a skin condition related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. 4. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed lump condition. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran has a lump condition related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. 5. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed migraine condition. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran has a migraine condition related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. 6. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed alcohol dependence. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran has experienced alcohol dependence that is caused or aggravated by his service connected disabilities, to include PTSD and tinnitus. M. H. HAWLEY Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD Brandon A. Williams, Counsel