Citation Nr: 21073894 Decision Date: 12/13/21 Archive Date: 12/13/21 DOCKET NO. 17-53 627 DATE: December 13, 2021 REMANDED The issue of service connection for a low back disability is remanded. The issue of service connection for left lower extremity sciatica is remanded. The issue of service connection for a left heel disability is remanded. The issue of service connection for a right wrist disability is remanded. The issue of service connection for chest pain is remanded. The issue of service connection for a right eye disability is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty for training (ACDUTRA) from March 1985 to June 1985, with additional periods of ACDUTRA. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a June 2016 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In November 2016, the Veteran requested advancement of her appeal on the Board's docket due to financial hardship, including documentation demonstrating her mortgage was in arrears several months and her electric service was within days of being shut off. The Board finds the Veteran has demonstrated sufficient grounds to grant the motion for advancement due to severe financial hardship. 38 C.F.R. § 20.902(c). REASONS FOR REMAND 1. The issue of service connection for a low back disability is remanded. 2. The issue of service connection for left lower extremity sciatica is remanded. 3. The issue of service connection for a left heel disability is remanded. 4. The issue of service connection for a right wrist disability is remanded. 5. The issue of service connection for chest pain is remanded. 6. The issue of service connection for a right eye disability is remanded. The Veteran asserts that her low back disability, left lower extremity sciatica, left heel disability, right wrist disability, chest pain, and right eye disability had their onset during her service in the National Guard and Reserves. See, e.g., Veteran's claim (October 2015). The Veteran's claims file does not appear to contain her complete service personnel records for her periods of service in the National Guard and Reserves. To this extent, the evidence contains several documents indicating that the Veteran served several periods in the Army and Air National Guard and Reserves. See personnel record (May 2000; May 2012)( where the Veteran was ordered to ACDUTRA in May 2000); (where the Veteran was order to ACDUTRA to attend school from May 2012 to June 2012); (U.S. Army Reserve Personnel Command Chronological Statement of Retirement Points from 1983 to 1999); Web/ HTML (December 2015)( where the document list several dates that the Veteran served in the National Guard and Reserve); STR (undated) (indicating that the Veteran is retiring in April 2016). While some of the documents confirm that the Veteran had ACDUTRA service, the other documents do not indicate whether the Veteran's service was ACDUTRA and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). Notably, in the Veteran's October 2015 claim, she indicated that she was receiving INACDUTRA payments. The Veteran also indicated that some of her injuries occurred "while on UTA military status" and that she would send a leave and earning statement (LES) upon receipt; however, the record does not contain any further documentaion or LESs. The claims file only includes one DD Form 214 that shows that the Veteran served ACDUTRA from March 1985 to June 1985. As such, the evidence suggest that the Veteran's service personnel records are not complete and that her service has not been verified. Therefore, a remand is necessary for the AOJ to verify the Veteran's periods of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA service and to obtain any outstanding service personnel records. Finally, in August 2019, the Veteran and her representative faxed 8 pages of documentation she identified as medical evidence for her right eye condition. See VA 21-0820, Report of General Information and medical treatment record non-government facility, received August 8, 2019. The Board notes that 6 of the 8 pages are dark and unreadable; therefore, on remand, the AOJ should afford the Veteran another opportunity to submit this documentation. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Contact the Veteran and request she resubmit the 8 pages of medical documentation submitted on August 8, 2019, concerning her claimed right eye condition, explaining to her that 6 pages are dark and unreadable. 2. Contact the Veteran to request she provide any additional details and documentation concerning her periods of ACTUTRA and INACDUTRA service in the Army and Air National Guard and Reserve. Request the Veteran clarify the approximate dates of her service at the unit training assemblies (UTAs) at the "911th AW" and "444th" during which she alleges she sustained her claimed right eye and chest pain disabilities as indicated in the statement accompanying the Notice of Disagreement received July 2016. (Continued on the next page) 3. Verify the Veteran's ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA service in the Army and Air National Guard and Reserve, to include the specific dates of service. All verified dates of service and all responses received should be documented and associated with the claims file. 4. Obtain any outstanding National Guard and Reserve service personnel records, to include all DD Forms 214. If necessary, a request should be made to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), to include copies of any leave and earning statements. Document all requests for information as well as all responses in the claims file. Tiffany Dawson Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board A. Castillo, 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.