Citation Nr: 21005474
Decision Date: 02/01/21	Archive Date: 02/01/21

DOCKET NO. 15-37 916
DATE: February 1, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

In August 2020, in compliance with a vacated Board decision and a remand by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court), the Board remanded the case to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) to obtain additional records. See 08/20/2020 BVA Decision. The AOJ obtained the records noted in the remand. See 11/24/2020 SSOC. Nonetheless, another item requires completion.

Entitlement to service connection for IHD due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents is remanded.

On further review the Board notes a referenced scanned cardiology entry dated in March 2016 and another dated September 2013 that were not noted in the August 2020 Board remand; and, therefore, was not obtained by the AOJ.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

The AOJ shall take the necessary action to cause the contents of the cardiology-related External Progress Notes and External Imaging noted at 07/03/2017 CAPRI, P. 26, dated March 28, 2016, and noted on P. 68, dated 09/01/2013 are obtained or otherwise printed into the Veteran’s outpatient records. The AOJ shall also ascertain if there are other cardiology-related External notes and/or imaging that have been created subsequent to the one specifically noted and also obtained them.

The AOJ shall comply with the applicable regulatory requirements for obtaining the records, to include when further efforts will not be fruitful, and notification of the Veteran.

 

 

Eric S. Leboff

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	W. T. Snyder

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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.