Citation Nr: 21008320 Decision Date: 02/16/21 Archive Date: 02/16/21 DOCKET NO. 16-35 782A DATE: February 16, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps from January 1983 to December 1986, and in the United States Army from January 1990 to February 1994, to include 11 months of foreign service. For his meritorious service, the Veteran was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, among other decorations. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a rating decision issued in June 2014 by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In December 2020, the Veteran appeared for a hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. A transcript of the hearing is of record. 1. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is remanded. The Veteran asserts that he is entitled to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. Specifically, the Veteran asserts that he got frostbite on his feet while serving in Korea, which later developed into peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran’s records reveal that he participated in cold weather training in January 1985, however, there is no documentation of complaints, a diagnosis, or treatment in the Veteran’s service treatment records (STRs) for frostbite. During his December 2020 hearing, the Veteran reported that he was experiencing cold feet but chose not to report it. He contends that his cold feet soon progressed to what is now peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran also reported that he was receiving benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). VA has an affirmative duty to obtain records in the care of other federal agencies, including the SSA. 38 C.F.R. § 3.159. Accordingly, the Veteran’s claim must be remanded in order to seek these records. The Board also determines that a VA examination is required. Evidence indicates that the Veteran currently suffers from peripheral neuropathy. Though there is no explicit indication in his service treatment records of treatment for cold injuries in service, the Veteran is competent to report cold exposure, and the Board finds his statements to be credible. The Board finds the Veteran’s contention to meet the low bar required for an indication that his disability may be related to service, warranting an examination. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain the Veteran’s records from SSA. 2. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination for his peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The examiner must review the claims file, to include a copy of this remand, prior to examining the Veteran. After reviewing the Veteran’s file and completing all indicated examinations, the examiner is to answer the following questions: a. Does the Veteran currently suffer from peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities? Is it at least as likely as not that any identified peripheral neuropathy had its onset during, or is otherwise related to, the Veteran’s exposure to cold in Korea? b. Does he have any other disabilities of the bilateral lower extremities that may be related to his claimed cold exposure? In providing the requested opinion, consider the Veteran’s description of his in-service injury and symptoms as well as his post-service symptoms. If there is any medical reason to accept or reject the proposition that the Veteran’s reported injury and symptoms in service and thereafter represented the onset of his current disability, this should be noted. Stated another way, do the Veteran’s reports about his symptoms align with how the currently diagnosed disability is known to develop or are the Veteran’s reports generally inconsistent with medical knowledge or implausible? Evan M. Deichert Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board C. K. Hall, 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.