Citation Nr: 20008079 Decision Date: 01/31/20 Archive Date: 01/30/20 DOCKET NO. 17-25 893 DATE: January 31, 2020 REMANDED The issue of entitlement to service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is remanded. The issue of entitlement to service connection for thyroid tumors is remanded. The issue of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss is remanded. The claim of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss is remanded. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a head injury is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The claims file contains VA treatment records dating through March 2017. Correspondence from the Chillicothe VA Medical Center (VAMC) dated in September 2017 indicates that the Veteran had been accepted as a resident at the Coleman VA Community Residential Care (CRC) home on August 15, 2017. VA treatment records for the period from March 2017 should be sought, to include those pertaining to his residency at the VA CRC. The record also indicates that the Veteran has received Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits. The basis for his receipt of SSA disability benefits is unclear, as is the content of any records held by SSA. Given the likelihood that records held by SSA might include those pertinent to the disabilities at issue in this appeal, the Board finds that a remand for such records is warranted. Murincsak v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 363 (1992). The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain outstanding VA treatment records for the period from March 2017 to the present, and those records pertinent to the Veteran’s residency at the Coleman VA CRC home. 2. Contact SSA and request a copy of the Veteran’s complete SSA disability benefits file, including any administrative decision(s) on the Veteran’s application for SSA disability benefits and all of the underlying medical records. A copy of any response(s) from SSA, to include a negative reply, should be included in the claims file. All records provided by SSA also should be included in the claims file, to include uploading any disc supplied by SSA to the Veteran’s electronic record. If, after making reasonable efforts to obtain named records the AOJ is unable to secure same, the AOJ must notify the Veteran and his representative and (a) identify the specific records the AOJ is unable to obtain; (b) briefly explain the efforts that the AOJ made to obtain those records; (c) describe any further action to be taken by the AOJ with respect to the claim; and (d) inform the Veteran that he is ultimately responsible for providing the evidence. The Veteran must then be given an opportunity to respond. 3. Then, readjudicate the Veteran’s claims, with application of all appropriate laws, regulations, and case law, and consideration of any additional information obtained as a result of this remand. If the decision remains adverse to the Veteran, he and his representative should be furnished a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) and afforded an appropriate period within which to respond thereto. DONNIE R. HACHEY Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board J. Barone, 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.