Citation Nr: 22016546
Decision Date: 03/22/22	Archive Date: 03/22/22

DOCKET NO. 18-18 347
DATE: March 22, 2022

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for bilateral fatty tumors in the lymph nodes of the armpits is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Army from June 1982 to April 1986 and again from July 1987 to August 1991.  

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a February 2018 rating decision of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).

The Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in a November 2021 Board hearing.  A transcript of that proceeding is of record.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for fatty tumors of the armpits, which he alleges were caused by exposure to contaminated water during service.  In the February 2018 rating decision, the RO denied the Veteran's claim based on, in pertinent part, an "electronic" review of his VA treatment records.  However, the relevant VA treatment records have not been associated with the claims file.  Thus, remand is required to upload the Veteran's VA treatment records to the actual claims folder.  

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

Upload all relevant VA treatment records into the claims file.  If any identified records are unavailable, the Veteran's electronic claims file must be clearly documented to that effect, and the Veteran and his representative must be notified in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(e).

 

 

T. MAINELLI

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	C. Orie, 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.