Citation Nr: 21000313 Decision Date: 01/05/21 Archive Date: 01/05/21 DOCKET NO. 18-28 591A DATE: January 5, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for second degree burns due to sun exposure is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for allergies is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a scar on right arm is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for skin cancer, to include as secondary to second degree burns, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from February 1978 to March 1981. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from a June 2015 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Oakland, California. Entitlement to service connection for second degree burns, due to sun exposure, allergies, scar on right arm, and skin cancer, to include as secondary to second degree burns, is remanded. The Board observes that the RO made a request to the Records Management Center (RMC) in January 2015 for the Veteran’s complete service treatment records (STRs). The RMC replied that the records could not be found at that location and the RO made a formal finding that the records were unavailable. However, the Board notes that the RO has not made a request for the Veteran’s complete official military personnel file (OMPF). As the potential exists that the Veteran’s missing STRs were mistakenly co-located with his OMPF, these records should be obtained. Since the missing STRs may be determinative as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for the above-referenced disabilities, the Board finds all indicated development to obtain those records must be accomplished. In sum, the Board finds additional indicated development must be done to obtain the Veteran’s STRs and OMPF, and if unavailable, a formal finding of unavailability should be completed and associated with the record. The Board also notes that the Veteran has submitted a statement from his private physician indicating that he receives treatment for his claimed conditions from a private provider, however, the record does not indicate that the RO attempted to obtain or assisted the Veteran in obtaining these treatment records. As the aforementioned records may contain information pertinent to the Veteran’s claim, the Board finds that remand is warranted to obtain these records The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Undertake appropriate development to the National Personnel Record Center (NPRC), or other appropriate source, to obtain the Veteran’s complete official military personnel file (OMPF) and service treatment records (STRs), to specifically include a PIES O50 request, to determine whether any additional service records are available. If any requested records are deemed unavailable, the record should be annotated to reflect such and the Veteran notified in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(e). (Continued on next page) 2. Undertake appropriate development to obtain any outstanding records pertinent to the Veteran’s remaining issues on appeal, to include any treatment records related to the claimed disabilities. If any requested records are not available, the record should be annotated to reflect such and the Veteran notified in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(e). T. REYNOLDS Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board D. Gorum, 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.