Citation Nr: 21031529 Decision Date: 05/24/21 Archive Date: 05/24/21 DOCKET NO. 16-30 671 DATE: May 24, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a right-shoulder disorder is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for left-knee disorder is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for right-ankle disorder is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for right-hand scar is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps from September 1999 to September 2003. A videoconference Board hearing was scheduled for the Veteran. He failed to show for that hearing. The file does not show any returned letters from the United States Postal Service which could not be delivered. Moreover, the file further indicates the Veteran has not provided evidence of good cause for the failure to show. As such, the Board will treat the Veteran's hearing request as withdrawn. See 38 C.F.R. § 20.704 (d). 1. Entitlement to service connection for a right-shoulder disorder. 2. Entitlement to service connection for left-knee disorder. 3. Entitlement to service connection for right-ankle disorder. 4. Entitlement to service connection for right-hand scar. The post-active-service record for these claims is sparse, to say the least. The in-service record of any treatment of the disorders is non-existent. However, the Veteran's statement accompanying his June 2016 Veterans Appeals Form 9 is quite specific as to where and under what circumstances the claimed injuries occurred and were then treated. More development is required to fulfil the Secretary's duty to assist the Veteran, which includes making "as many requests as are necessary to obtain relevant records from a Federal department or agency." 38 C.F.R. § 3.159 (c)(2); see also 38 C.F.R. § 3.159 (e)(2). The claims are remanded for all usual and appropriate inquiries for the possibility of obtaining further in-service medical records. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Contact the Veteran and/or his representative for information pertaining to any current treatment right-shoulder disorder, left-knee disorder, right-ankle disorder, and right-hand scar at any VA facility and by any private treatment provider. Obtain any records of the above treatments not yet associated with the claims file and associate them with the claims file. The assistance of the Veteran and/or his representative should be requested in obtaining any records of recent treatment as indicated. All attempts to obtain records should be documented in the claims file. 2. Simultaneous to the above directives, first, contact the Veteran for specific information regarding dates, the name of facilities where treated and, if possible, addresses regarding the information of in-service injuries and treatment he has provided, set forth in following paragraphs. The following information was provided by the Veteran in his statement accompanying his June 2016 Veterans Appeals Form 9: His right-shoulder disorder began in training and bothered him throughout his subsequent service. Therefore, usual inquiries should be made to determine with certainty if the STRs in the record are complete. The Veteran states his right-hand scar was incurred during the period of his service on board USS AUSTIN. He adds that the ship's medic applied stitches to the injury. He states his right-ankle disorder occurred "in training in Djibouti, Africa." He further states his left-knee injury occurred "during training in Yorktown, VA." The Board notes that his statement may refer to the United States Navy Weapons Station, Yorktown, Virginia. Second, make all usual inquires to the appropriate federal departments, agencies, directorates, or other relevant entities for the purpose of obtaining medical treatment records from the period of the Veteran's active service. Inquiries should be based on the above information provided by the Veteran and any subsequent information obtained by contacting the Veteran, as directed. If inquiries are successful regarding outstanding records, provide the Veteran with any necessary release-of-information and authorization forms and instructions. All inquiries and attempts to obtain records must be documented and associated with the file, to give evidence of the Secretary's efforts to fulfil his duty to assist the Veteran in the development of the record. Upon completion of the above development and any further necessary development, readjudicate the claims. To the extent the benefits sought are not granted, issue an Supplemental Statement of the Case outlining all pertinent evidence and discussing adjudication of the claims and send it to the Veteran and his representative. Allow an appropriate opportunity for the Veteran's response before returning the case to the Board. MICHAEL D. LYON Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board P. Franke, 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.