Citation Nr: 21012321 Decision Date: 03/04/21 Archive Date: 03/04/21 DOCKET NO. 15-44 416 DATE: March 4, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a recurrent left knee disorder to include injury residuals and osteoarthritis, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from June 1978 to September 1978 and had additional duty with the Marine Corps Reserve. This case comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal of a November 2013 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran contends that he injured his left knee during a drill weekend (INACDUTRA) in December 1978. Although the claims file contains some service personnel records relating to the Veteran's periods of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA, including a Reserve Retirement Credit Report, there is no document that reflects the precise dates when the Veteran served in an ACDUTRA or an INACDUTRA capacity. This information is crucial in addressing the Veteran's contentions that his disabilities were related to his ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA service. Thus, a remand is required to obtain pay records from Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). The matter is REMANDED for the following action: 1. Contact Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) and request the Veteran’s military pay records dating from January 1978 to December 1980 to verify the specific dates of any period(s) of active duty and ACTDUTRA/INACDUTRA service in the Marines and Marine Reserves. All records requests and responses received must be documented in the claims file and all pertinent follow-up should be undertaken. 2. Determine whether additional development is warranted in this case prior to readjudication and, if in order, the return of the case to the Board. A. C. MACKENZIE Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board D. Hetman 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.