Citation Nr: 22015107
Decision Date: 03/16/22	Archive Date: 03/16/22

DOCKET NO. 14-38 130
`DATE: March 16, 2022

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for recurrent anemia is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran had active service from August 1980 through May 1985. 

Entitlement to service connection for recurrent anemia is remanded.

The Veteran contends that service connection for recurrent anemia is warranted as the claimed disability was initially manifested during active service.  He states that he was informed by military medical personnel that he had anemia.  

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinical documentation dated in April 2012 states that the Veteran was diagnosed with recurrent anemia.

The Veteran has not been afforded a VA examination which addresses the diagnosed recurrent anemia and its relationship active service. 

VA's duty to assist includes, in appropriate cases, the duty to conduct a thorough and contemporaneous medical examination which is accurate and fully descriptive.  McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006); Green v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 121, 124 (1991).  

Clinical documentation dated after April 2012 is not of record.  VA should obtain all relevant VA and private treatment records which could potentially be helpful in resolving the Veteran's claim.  Murphy v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 78 (1990); Bell v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 611 (1992).  

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Ask the Veteran to complete a VA Form 21-4142 for each private healthcare provider who treated him for any recurrent anemia.  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 April 2012.

3. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination conducted by medical doctor to assist in determining the nature and etiology of any identified anemia and its relationship to active service.  The examiner must review the record and should note that review in the report.  A rationale for all opinions should be provided.  The examiner should:

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(a.) Identify all recurrent anemia found. 

(b.) Opine whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that any identified recurrent anemia had its onset during active service or is related to any incident of service, including the Veteran's subjective history of an in service diagnosis of anemia.

 

 

J. T. HUTCHESON

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	T. C. KING

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.