Citation Nr: 18158714
Decision Date: 12/17/18	Archive Date: 12/17/18

DOCKET NO. 17-01 140
DATE:	December 17, 2018
ORDER
Entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served in the Navy from February 1970 to August 1972. The Veteran declined a hearing in this case. 
Entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is remanded. 
The Veteran asserts that he went ashore in Vietnam for one day on or around August 5, 1972 while serving aboard the USS Kitty Hawk in the Gulf of Tonkin. Given the Veteran’s assertion that he went ashore, deck logs from August 1, 1972 through August 10, 1972 should be obtained to verify the presence of the USS Kitty Hawk in the Gulf of Tonkin around the date that the Veteran claims that he went ashore. 
This information will allow the Board to determine whether the Veteran is entitled to presumptive service connection for his diabetes mellitus type II. The deck logs already associated with the file show only that the USS Kitty Hawk was in the Gulf of Tonkin on August 1, 1972 and again on August 31, 1972, and do not specify where the vessel was on or around August 5, 1972. Therefore, more specific deck log information is required for the proper adjudication of this claim. 
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Provide the Veteran another opportunity to identify any pertinent service records.  The RO should secure any necessary authorizations.  If any requested outstanding records cannot be obtained, the Veteran should be notified of such.
2. Obtain deck logs for the USS Kitty Hawk for each calendar date from August 1, 1972 through August 10, 1972. 
 
A. P. SIMPSON
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	A. Caruso, Associate Counsel