Citation Nr: 21000286
Decision Date: 01/05/21	Archive Date: 01/05/21

DOCKET NO. 15-38 174
DATE: January 5, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during private treatment at Tulane University Hospital on February 8, 2014, is remanded in order for the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) to reconstruct the record and upload all documentation related to the appeal to the electronic claims file.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served honorably on active duty in the United States Air Force from February 1975 to February 1979.  The Veteran appeared before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge at a hearing conducted in August 2018.  A transcript of the hearing has been associated with the claims file.

Entitlement to payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during private treatment at Tulane University Hospital on February 8, 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 of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during private treatment at Tulane University Hospital on February 8, 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 action:

1. Reconstruct the record and upload all documentation related to the claim for entitlement to payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during private treatment at Tulane University Hospital on February 8, 2014, to the claims file.

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

 

 

Michael A. Pappas

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.