Citation Nr: 20006777
Decision Date: 01/28/20	Archive Date: 01/27/20

DOCKET NO. 15-16 885
DATE: January 28, 2020

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disorder to include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asbestosis, bronchitis, asthma and emphysema is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran had active military service from September 1950 to December 1952.

This matter was previously before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) Unfortunately, another remand is required in this case for the issue on appeal.  The Board sincerely regrets the additional delay, but it is necessary to ensure that there is a complete record upon which to decide the Veteran's claim so that he is afforded every possible consideration.

In November 2019, the agency of original jurisdiction received a statement from the Veteran expressing his disagreement with the supplemental statement of the case he received in October 2019.  In the statement he indicated that he has received treatment from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors at Beckley VA Medical Center (VAMC) for his COPD for the past 7 or 8 years.  He also noted that his family physician, Dr. Remines at Blue Ridge Internal Medicine in Princeton, West Virginia prescribes medication for his respiratory disorder when he cannot get to Beckley VAMC.  Updated VA and private treatment records are not associated with the Veteran’s record, and remand is necessary to request such records.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Obtain all outstanding records of VA treatment dated from March 2016 to the present from Beckley VAMC.

2. Contact the Veteran and request a properly completed VA Form 21-4142, Authorization and Consent to Release Information to VA, for all outstanding records of medical treatment from Dr. Remines at Blue Ridge Internal Medicine in Princeton, West Virginia from January 2014 to the present.  All attempts to obtain such records must be documented and any such documentation must be associated with the Veteran’s claims file.

 

A. C. MACKENZIE

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	M. Young, Counsel

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  This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability.  38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.