Citation Nr: 18156093
Decision Date: 12/06/18	Archive Date: 12/06/18

DOCKET NO. 17-39 182
DATE:	December 6, 2018
REMANDED
Service connection for bilateral pes planus is remanded.
Service connection for a back condition, to include as secondary to bilateral pes planus, is remanded.
Service connection for a bilateral knee condition, to include as secondary to bilateral pes planus, is remanded.
Service connection for tinnitus is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had active service from July 1967 to July 1969.
This matter is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from rating decisions of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) dated May 2015, which denied service connection for tinnitus, and October 2016, which denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, a back condition and bilateral knee condition (respectively claimed as secondary to bilateral pes planus).
The Board finds additional development is needed.  Specifically, the Veteran asserted he received treatment at one or more VA facilities in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1970 to 1993, and VA has a duty to assist the Veteran in obtaining any associated treatment records.  38 U.S.C. § 5103A; 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(c).  The record does not show the RO requested a search be done of the St. Louis Healthcare System’s archived or retired paper records.
The matters are REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain and associate with the record the Veteran’s complete VA medical records from VA St. Louis Healthcare System for 1970 to 1993.  A search must be done of archived or retired paper records.  Document all efforts and any negative responses in the claims file.
2. If any records are obtained from VA St. Louis Healthcare System for 1970 to 1993 that show complaints or treatment of bilateral pes planus, a back condition, a bilateral knee condition, or tinnitus, conduct any additional development as appropriate, to include scheduling the Veteran for VA examination(s) or obtaining addendum medical opinions.

 
MICHELLE L. KANE
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	D. Leamon, Associate Counsel