Citation Nr: 20046419
Decision Date: 07/10/20	Archive Date: 07/10/20

DOCKET NO. 17-66 297
DATE: July 10, 2020

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for a gastrointestinal disability (claimed as gastric ulcer/gastritis) is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from February 1982 to February 1985. He had subsequent service in the Reserves through 1991.

This matter was remanded by the Board in April 2019 for additional development; it has since been re-assigned to the undersigned.

1. Entitlement to service connection for a gastrointestinal disability (claimed as gastric ulcer/gastritis) is remanded.

In April 2019, the Board remanded this matter for additional development, to include a request for proper authorizations completed by the Veteran for private treatment records. The Veteran completed the authorization forms and the RO requested medical records from the identified private treatment providers.

In January 2020, a report of contact was filed in which the private health providers identified as Burke Primary Care, Grace Hospital, and Blue Ridge Health, responded that the Veteran was “not their patient.”

The Veteran submitted correspondence in January 2020, informing the RO that if the records from Burke Primary Care, Grace Hospital, and Blue Ridge Health were not received, to notify him by mail and he would send submit these medical records.

The Board finds that the Veteran’s January 2020 correspondence shows he may have copies of these records in his possession. Therefore, this matter must be remanded to notify the Veteran he should submit any medical records from these private treatment providers he has in his possession. 

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Send the Veteran notification that private treatment records from Burke Primary Care, Grace Hospital, and Blue Ridge Health could not be obtained, and if he has copies of these records, he should submit them for consideration in adjudicating his claim.

2. If, and only if, the Veteran submitted additional relevant evidence consisting of the requested private treatment records, request a supplemental medical opinion as to the etiology of his claimed gastrointestinal disability.

 

 

Tiffany Dawson

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	J. Dworkin, 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.