Citation Nr: 18159601
Decision Date: 12/19/18	Archive Date: 12/19/18

DOCKET NO. 17-05 244
DATE:	December 19, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for cause of death is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty, in-part, from January 1986 to October 1989.  The Veteran died in May 2007; the appellant is the Veteran’s surviving spouse.
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a June 2015 rating decision.
Upon review of the Veteran’s service treatment records (STRs), the Board noted that the Veteran had an enlistment examination dated October 1984 and appeared to have in-service treatment beginning in 1984.  Additionally, the Veteran’s separation examination is not of record.  The Board also noted that the Veteran’s military personnel records, including his DD Form 214, are not associated with his file.  The rating decision on appeal indicated that the Veteran’s service was from January 1986 to October 1989.  The aforementioned STRs, however, indicated that the Veteran’s service began in 1984.  As such, the Board finds that it is possible that the Veteran’s STRs are incomplete and that remand is necessary to obtain the Veteran’s military personnel record, including a copy of the his DD Form 214, verify his complete period of service, and confirm that a complete copy of his STRs for his period of service are associated with the file.  
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Contact appropriate sources to obtain the Veteran’s military personnel records, to include his DD Form 214. All attempts should be documented in the claims file.
2. Obtain the Veteran’s complete service treatment records for the dates of the Veteran’s service verified by his DD Form 214.  Document all requests for information as well as all responses in the claims file.
 
LESLEY A. REIN
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	A. Parrish, Associate Counsel