Citation Nr: 22015293
Decision Date: 03/17/22	Archive Date: 03/17/22

DOCKET NO. 15-43 221
DATE: March 17, 2022

REMANDED

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

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran had active service from April 1975 to April 1979.  

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

A May 2019 SSA Inquiry states that the Veteran was in receipt of Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits.  The evidence considered by the SSA in granting the Veteran's claim is not of record.  The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) duty to assist the Veteran includes an obligation to obtain the records from the SSA.  Masors v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 181, 187 188 (1992). 

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The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

Contact the SSA and request copies of all records developed in association with the Veteran's award of disability benefits.

 

 

J. T. HUTCHESON

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	D. Casula

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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.