Citation Nr: 18154238
Decision Date: 11/30/18	Archive Date: 11/29/18

DOCKET NO. 16-60 475
DATE:	November 30, 2018
REMANDED
Whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for a low back disability is remanded.
Whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for a disability associated with asbestos exposure, to include asbestosis, is remanded.
Whether new and material has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded.
Entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability is remanded.
Entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability is remanded.
Entitlement to service connection for a disability manifested by vision loss is remanded.
Entitlement to service connection for a disability manifested by a chronic sore throat is remanded.
Entitlement to service connection for hypertension is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from October 1967 to August 1979. This case comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from April 2016 and June 2016 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rating decisions.
The Board finds that a remand for further development of the record is necessary. The Veteran contends that he incurred multiple chronic disabilities during/due to his active duty service. The claims file currently contains some VA treatment records, but those records do not establish he has all of the claimed disabilities.  VA medical records (dated in 2004, 2005, and 2006) note that on a regular basis the Veteran was receiving treatment from private physicians through his private insurance.  Records of such evaluations are likely to contain information relevant to the Veteran’s claims, and must be secured.   
The matters are REMANDED for the following:
1. Ask the Veteran to submit completed authorizations for VA to obtain his private medical records from each provider (physician and facility) of evaluations and treatment he has received for the disabilities at issue in this appeal (to include health care providers associated with PacifiCare Health Systems (now part of the UnitedHealth Group).  Obtain complete clinical records of the evaluations and treatment from each of the providers.  If there is no response from a private provider to an initial request for pertinent records, make a second request for the records (unless it is clear after the first request that a second request would be futile).



2. Arrange for any further development suggested by the information in additional records received.
 
GEORGE R. SENYK
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	M. Riley, Counsel