Citation Nr: 21010008 Decision Date: 02/23/21 Archive Date: 02/23/21 DOCKET NO. 15-46 901 DATE: February 23, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to payment or reimbursement for the cost of medical services received at Portneuf Medical Practice on November 3, 2013, November 5, 2013, November 11, 2013, November 14, 2013, November 19, 2013, and December 17, 2013, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from November 1974 to November 1978. While the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) notes that the Veteran was scheduled for a requested hearing before the Board on January 7, 2021, the record indicates that he did not report for this hearing. His hearing request will therefore be deemed withdrawn, and no further action will be taken in this regard. Entitlement to payment or reimbursement for the cost of medical services received at Portneuf Medical Practice on November 3, 2013, November 5, 2013, November 11, 2013, November 14, 2013, November 19, 2013, and December 17, 2013, is remanded. The decision letters denying payment or reimbursement for the November 3, 2015, November 5, 2013, November 11, 2013, and November 19, 2013 treatment at Portneuf Medical Practice are not of record. An undated report of contact in the claims file states that due to a system error, the letters could not be printed. It is not clear whether the letters are permanently unavailable, although it is noted that the report of contact also stated that the decision letters for November 14, 2013 and December 17, 2013 could not be printed, and they are in the claims file. Therefore, the claim must be remanded in order for the missing decision letters to be associated with the claims file. In addition, the claim forms, treatment records from Portneuf Medical Practice, and contemporaneous VA treatment records have not been associated with the claims file and should be obtained before the claim is decided on the merits. If any of these records cannot be obtained, it should be noted in writing in the claims file. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Associate the claims for payment or reimbursement for the cost of medical services received at Portneuf Medical Practice on November 3, 2013, November 5, 2013, November 11, 2013, November 14, 2013, November 19, 2013, and December 17, 2013 with the claims file. If any of the claim forms are not available, a memorandum of unavailability should be associated with the claims file. 2. Associate the December 2013 and January 2014 decisions denying payment or reimbursement for treatment at Portneuf Medical Practice on November 3, 2013, November 5, 2013, November 11, 2013, and November 19, 2013 with the claims file. If any of the decision letters are not available, a memorandum of unavailability should be associated with the claims file. 3. Obtain the Veteran’s VA treatment records from September 2013 through December 2013, including any administrative records regarding authorizing treatment at, or referral to, Portneuf Medical Practice. 4. Contact the Veteran and ask that he complete and return the necessary authorization (VA Form 21-4142) for VA to obtain the complete treatment records from Portneuf Medical Practice from November 2013 through December 2013 and invite him to submit any relevant records in his possession. There must be two attempts made to request private treatment records from the providers, and all attempts must be documented in the claims file. Thereafter, readjudicate the claim for payment or reimbursement for the cost of medical services received at Portneuf Medical Practice on November 3, 2013, November 5, 2013, November 11, 2013, November 14, 2013, November 19, 2013, and December 17, 2013. If the determination remains unfavorable to the Veteran, he should be furnished a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) which addresses all evidence associated with the claims file since the last statement of the case, and the Veteran should thereafter be afforded the applicable time period to respond. Michael J. Skaltsounis Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Scott Shoreman, 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.