Citation Nr: 22017375
Decision Date: 03/24/22	Archive Date: 03/24/22

DOCKET NO. 17-55 971A
DATE: March 24, 2022

REMANDED

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

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran had active service from June 1955 to February 1959.  He had additional duty with the Air Force Reserve.

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

In a September 2021 written statement, the Veteran noted that he was awarded Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits.  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).  Documentation of the Veteran's SSA award of disability benefits, if any, and the evidence considered by the SSA in granting or denying the Veteran's claim has not been requested for incorporation into the record.

Clinical documentation dated after October 2021 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).   

Accordingly, this matter is REMANDED for the following action:

1. Obtain any VA treatment records not of record, to include those pertaining to treatment after October 2021.

2. Contact the SSA and request that documentation of the Veteran's award of disability benefits or the denial of that claim and copies of all records developed in association with the decision.  

. 

 

J. T. HUTCHESON

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	H. Marsdale

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  This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability.  38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.