Citation Nr: 18153225
Decision Date: 11/27/18	Archive Date: 11/27/18

DOCKET NO. 16-35 703
DATE:	November 27, 2018
REMANDED
Whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen entitlement to service connection for a heart disorder is remanded.
Entitlement to service connection for high blood pressure, to include as secondary to a heart disorder, is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Appellant has unverified Navy Reserve service.  This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an August 2012 rating decision issued by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).  The Appellant provided testimony before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in February 2017.  
Available partial service treatment records indicate that the Appellant underwent an enlistment examination in November 1995 and was medically discharged in February 1999.  As VA made only one attempt in December 2005 to obtain the Appellant’s complete service records, another attempt is needed on remand.  Updated treatment records should also be secured, and the Appellant’s duty status at the time of her first myocardial infarction and stent placement (October 1997-November 1997), double bypass surgery (March 31, 1998) and second myocardial infarction (September 2004) verified.  
The matters are REMANDED for the following action:
1.  Obtain the Appellant’s complete service treatment records. If unavailable, provide the Appellant with notice as required by 38 C.F.R. §3.159(e).
2. Verify the appellant’s duty status (ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA): (a) from October 1997-November 1997; (b) in March 1998; and (c) in September 2004.  Retirement points will not suffice.
3. With any necessary assistance from the Appellant, obtain any outstanding relevant private treatment records, to include any updated records from Forum Health, Northside Medical Center, and Dr. Scavina.
4. Obtain any VA treatment records.
 
S. BUSH
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	G.Rouse, Associate Counsel