Citation Nr: 21022354
Decision Date: 04/15/21	Archive Date: 04/15/21

DOCKET NO. 14-09 142A
DATE: April 15, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability is remanded.  

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

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

Entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability, is remanded.  

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

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

Entitlement to a higher rating in excess of 20 percent for post-operative right anterior ankle tendonitis is remanded.  

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran had active service from November 1998 to February 1999.  

Entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability, a right hip disability, a left hip disability, a right knee disability, a left knee disability, and 

 

a left ankle disability and a rating in excess of 20 percent for post-operative right anterior ankle tendonitis is remanded.  

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinical documentation dated in January 2020 and February 2021 states that the Veteran received ongoing private chiropractic treatment for his multiple musculoskeletal disabilities.  Clinical documentation of the cited private chiropractic treatment is not of record.  VA clinical documentation dated after July 2020 is not of record.  

VA should obtain all relevant VA and private treatment records which could potentially be helpful in resolving the Veteran’s claims.  Murphy v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 78 (1990); Bell v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 611 (1992).  

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

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1. Ask the Veteran to complete a VA Form 21-4142 for each private healthcare provider, including chiropractors, who treated him for any lumbar spine, hip, knee, and left ankle disabilities and the service connected post operative right ankle disability.  Make two requests for the authorized records from all identified healthcare providers unless it is clear after the first request that a second request would be futile.  

2. Obtain the Veteran’s VA clinical documentation not already of record, including treatment records dated after July 2020.

 

 

J. T. HUTCHESON

Acting Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	T.M. Gillett

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.