Citation Nr: 21076030
Decision Date: 12/22/21	Archive Date: 12/22/21

DOCKET NO. 18-27 794
DATE: December 22, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability is remanded.

Entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability is remanded.

Entitlement to service connection for a back disability is remanded.

Entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability is remanded.

Entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disability is remanded.

Entitlement to service connection for a left eye disability is remanded.

Entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded.

Entitlement to service connection for a skin disability is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in the United States Army Reserve from June 1985 to October 1985, with additional periods of service that need confirmation. In August 2021, he testified at a Board hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. A transcript of the proceeding is in the record.

The claims must be remanded for further development. The Veteran stated in his May 2018 VA Form 9 appeal that his records from military service between 2005 and 2007 was not considered when deciding his claims. The Veteran further stated that during this time he served at Fort Stewart in Georgia and was treated for many of his claimed conditions at Winn Army Community Hospital. 

At the hearing, the Veteran testified that he injured his back when his ankle fell into a hole during a run in 2006 while stationed at Fort Stewart. He stated that he went to sick call during this time to receive treatment. He also testified that he between 1985 and 2015, he was activated for periods of duty from 30 to 120 days.

The service treatment records and military personnel records currently associated with the record do not show any documentation from the Veteran's reported service at Fort Stewart. Remand is needed to confirm all periods of the Veteran's military service and obtain any outstanding personnel and service treatment records not yet associated with the claims file before the Board can proceed with adjudicating the respective service connection claims on appeal.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Take appropriate steps to verify the Veteran's periods of military service, including all periods of active duty, active duty for training, and inactive active duty for training. For each period, state definitively whether it was federalized service. If this information is unavailable, all efforts to obtain it should be documented in a memorandum placed in the claims file.

2. If additional periods of service are verified, obtain complete service treatment records and service personnel records for any period of service. Document all requests for information as well as all responses in the record.

3. After completion of the above, conduct any other appropriate development, to include scheduling the Veteran for examinations by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of his various disabilities.

 

 

M. E. Larkin

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	J. Komperda, 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.