Citation Nr: 21000280
Decision Date: 01/05/21	Archive Date: 01/05/21

DOCKET NO. 15-27 024A
DATE: January 5, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred for prescription medications purchased at a non-VA pharmacy in December 2014 is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty in the U.S. Navy from June 1962 to December 1963.

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).

In September 2018, the Board remanded the issue on appeal for additional development.  At that time, the claims file appeared to have been in a paper format and all records were available for review by the Board; however, since that time, while most of the claims file was converted to electronic format, the records pertaining to this claim were not converted to electronic format.   

1. Entitlement to payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred for prescription medications purchased at a non-VA pharmacy in December 2014 is remanded in order for the AOJ to reconstruct the record and upload all documentation related to the appeal to the electronic claims file.

In the instant matter, the file for the claim of entitlement to payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred for prescription medications purchased at a non-VA pharmacy in December 2014 cannot be located, and documentation pertinent to the appeal is not in the electronic record.  Therefore, it must be remanded in order for the AOJ to reconstruct the record and upload all documentation related to the appeal to the electronic claims file.  If such records are unable to be located, the AOJ should make a formal finding of unavailability.

The matter is REMANDED for the following actions:

1. Reconstruct the record and upload all documentation related to the claim for payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred for prescription medications purchased at a non-VA pharmacy in December 2014 to the electronic claims file.

2. If such records are unable to be associated with the record, make a formal finding of unavailability and inform the Veteran and his representative.

 

 

LESLEY A. REIN

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	Journet Shaw, 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.