Citation Nr: 21064197
Decision Date: 10/19/21	Archive Date: 10/19/21

DOCKET NO. 17-32 424
DATE: October 19, 2021

REMANDED

The issue of service connection for dementia is remanded.

The issue of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is remanded.

The issue of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is remanded. 

The issue of service connection for hearing loss is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from June 1966 to October 1968. 

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) from a December 2015 rating decision from a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regional office (RO). 

The Veteran originally requested a videoconference hearing before the Board in his May 2017 substantive appeal. However, the Veteran withdrew this request in May 2020. Therefore, no hearing was provided. 

1.	The issue of service connection for dementia is remanded.

2.	The issue of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is remanded.

3.	The issue of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is remanded. 

4.	The issue of service connection for hearing loss is remanded.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. BACKGROUND FOR THE ADJUDICATOR

June 2018 records indicate the Veteran was in receipt of disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) starting in 2002. Records relating to SSA's finding of disability may be relevant Federal records. Thus, VA has a duty to assist the Veteran in obtaining them. However, no efforts to associate these records with the Veteran's claims folder have been documented. Therefore, a remand is necessary to obtain the SSA records. 

THE REMAND DIRECTIVES FOLLOW:

2. Obtain the Veteran's federal records from the SSA relating to the SSA finding the Veteran disabled.  Document all requests for information as well as all responses in the claims file.

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3. Thereafter, readjudicate the issues on appeal. If the determination remains unfavorable to the Veteran, he and his representative should be furnished a supplemental statement of the case which addresses all evidence associated with the claims file since the last statement of the case.  The Veteran and his representative should be afforded the applicable time period in which to respond.

 

Vito A. Clementi

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	S. Reed, Counsel

 The Board's decision is only binding on this case. This action is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.