Citation Nr: 20023992 Decision Date: 04/08/20 Archive Date: 04/08/20 DOCKET NO. 16-56 672 DATE: April 8, 2020 REMANDED The issue of service connection for a right ankle disability is remanded. The issue of service connection for a left ankle disability is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from March 1992 to July 1993. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a July 2014 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In February 2020, the Veteran presented testimony before the Board. During the hearing, the Veteran’s request for the record to be held open for an additional 30 days for submission of additional evidence was granted. The claims of service connection for right and left ankle disabilities has been recharacterized in light of Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1, 4-5 (2009). The Veteran claims that her right and left ankle disabilities are due to an in-service injury. Specifically, she reports that during her in-service basic training, she injured and/or strained her ankles in basic training. See Board hearting transcript (February 2020). The Veteran’s service treatment records (STRs) show diagnoses of achilles tendonitis and that it was treated with a gel cast for seven days. See STRs (May 1992 January 1993). Also, in a February 1993 STR, the examining physician indicated that the Veteran reported tinging and numbness and noted that she was previously treated for an achilles tendonitis. In a July 2014 VA examination report, the examiner noted that the Veteran reported that she was diagnosed as having heel spurs, based on an x-ray report, and that she was treated by podiatrist. The VA examiner stated that there was insufficient evidence to diagnosis bilateral achilles tendonitis. During the February 2020 Board hearing, the Veteran testified that she sought treatment from a private podiatrist, Dr. Isenberg, and from VA since 2013 regarding her ankle disabilities. In a February 2020 statement, O’daruis Williams, a personal trainer, diagnosed achilles tendonitis and related it to the Veteran’s boots that she wore during service. In this case, further development is needed, as the claims file contains no treatment records and there is conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran’s right and left ankle disabilities. Accordingly, a remand is necessary to obtain treatment records and a VA opinion regarding the nature and etiology the Veteran’s right and left ankle disabilities. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain VA treatment records regarding the Veteran’s right and left ankle disabilities. 2. Ask the Veteran to complete a VA Form 21-4142 for private treatment records regarding her right and left ankle disabilities, to include treatment records from a, Dr. Isenberg, a podiatrist, located in Clearwater, Florida, since 2013. Then, request the records. 3. Refer the claims file to a physician for an opinion as to the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s right and left ankle disabilities. The Veteran does not need to be examined, unless the physician determines it is necessary. The physician should identify all right and left ankle disabilities since the date of the Veteran’s claim in November 2013. The physician should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran’s right and left ankle disabilities had its/their onset in service or is/are otherwise related to service, to include as due to wearing combat boots during physical training and/or in-service achilles tendonitis. The physician must provide a rationale for the opinion. JAMES L. MARCH Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board A. Castillo, 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.