Citation Nr: 20004052
Decision Date: 01/16/20	Archive Date: 01/16/20

DOCKET NO. 15-38 142
DATE: January 16, 2020

REMANDED

Service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran honorably served in the United States Navy on active duty from November 1967 to October 1971. This matter is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a March 2015 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). 

1. Service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is remanded.

Although the Board sincerely regrets the additional delay, a remand is necessary to ensure that there is a complete and accurate record upon which to decide the Veteran’s claim so that every possible consideration is afforded.

The Board finds that further development of the record is necessary to meet VA’s duty to assist the Veteran in developing evidence to substantiate his claim. See 38 C.F.R. § 3.159. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the claim at this time because the record does not include evidence that the Veteran served “offshore” of the Republic of Vietnam as it is defined in the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. See 116 P.L. 23; 133 Stat. 966 (June 25, 2019). Accordingly, remand is required to obtain additional evidence of the Veteran’s location while serving about the USS Intrepid. 

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Attempt to verify the Veteran’s service offshore of Vietnam, as it is defined in the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. If more details are needed, contact the Veteran to request the information.  If there is still insufficient information to verify service offshore, issue a Formal Finding outlining the steps taken to assist the Veteran and notify the Veteran of VA's inability to verify the service offshore of Vietnam.

2. If unable to verify service offshore within the meaning of the law, obtain deck logs for the USS Intrepid from November 1968 to October 1971. 

 

VICTORIA MOSHIASHWILI

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	S. Lambert

The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.