Citation Nr: 21041840 Decision Date: 07/10/21 Archive Date: 07/10/21 DOCKET NO. 15-41 146 DATE: July 10, 2021 ORDER Entitlement to service connection is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a bone disorder, to include osteopenia and osteoporosis, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active duty in the United States Army from February 1986 to April 1995, October 2001 to October 2002, and from March 2003 to March 2004. This matter was initially before the Board in August 2018, where it was remanded for additional development. Specifically, the Board determined that the Veteran should be afforded VA examinations for his service connection claims. In a May 2020 rating decision, the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) granted the Veteran's service connection claims for paresthesia of the bilateral upper extremities, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction. As the grant of those claims constitute a full grants of benefits under the law, this issue is no longer in appellate status. Grantham v. Brown, 114 F.3d. 1156 (Fed. Cir. 1997). 1. Entitlement to service connection for HIV. 2. Entitlement to service connection for a bone disorder, to include osteopenia and osteoporosis is remanded. The Veteran contends that his HIV infection, which was first detected in 2007, was contracted during his period of active service from March 2003 to March 2004. He asserts that he was exposed to blood from providing medical aid to Iraqi civilians. His private provider of treatment has posited that the Veteran "could have potentially contracted HIV infection when exposed to blood while deployed on active duty." The Veteran's service treatment records (STRs) reflect a history of gonorrhea in the 1980s. He underwent routine HIV monitoring tests since 1988. A February 2001 Health Risk Appraisal Profile notified the Veteran that he may be placing himself at risk for acquiring HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases and that he could reduce his risk by practicing safe sex practices. A military examination at late as September 2002 noted a negative HIV test. A February 2006 military examination contained notations of "P" for HIV and chest x-ray results. This may represent that the results were pending. An October 2007 private medical record noted that the Veteran had tested positive on routine military testing in July 2007. The only risk factor identified was a history of sex with prostitutes, but the time frame was not identified. The Veteran was afforded a VA examination in August 2020. The examiner opined that his HIV is less likely than not related to service. The examiner reasoned that there was no evidence that he was diagnosed or treated for HIV while in service. Additionally, the examiner stated that the "Veteran did not have a medical or clinical MOS while in the service [and] his chances of receiving HIV through rendering basic first aid is even lower." After reviewing this record, the Board cannot conclude that complete STRs have been associated with the claims folder. As noted above, the February 2006 military examination appears to reflect that HIV and chest x-ray results were pending. The Veteran also gives a history of a positive HIV test during routine military testing in 2007. The results from the February 2006 examination and the purported positive military test in 2007 are not associated with the claims folder. To properly address this question since multiple risk factors are identified, the Board must remand to ensure that complete STRs are associated with the claims folder. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain all outstanding private and/or VA treatment records and associate them with the claims folder. 2. Associate with the claims folder complete service records for the Veteran's active service and reserve service specifically requesting any HIV tests results from 2006 and 2007. Additionally, contact Army Human Resources Command and request them to identify when the Veteran was first registered as an HIV infected soldier. T. MAINELLI Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board Adeleke, T. 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.