Citation Nr: 18124025
Decision Date: 08/03/18	Archive Date: 08/03/18

DOCKET NO. 11-30 377
DATE:	August 3, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected ischemic heart disease (IHD) is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had active military service from April 1964 to April 1966.  He died in January 2016 prior to the promulgation of a decision in this appeal.  The appellant is his surviving spouse.  In a September 2017 letter, the AOJ notified the appellant that she met the basic eligibility for substitution as the Veteran’s surviving spouse and that she was substituted as the claimant in the Veteran’s appeal before the Board.  
In April 2018, the appellant testified at a videoconference hearing.  A transcript of that hearing is of record.  
Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected IHD is remanded.
The Board notes that there is a substantial gap in the treatment records.  During the April 2018 hearing, the appellant identified relevant outstanding private treatment records.  Specifically, the appellant identified private treatment records of Dr. Thomas Wilson at the University Hospitals and noted that she had all of the Veteran’s medical records from 2011 to December 5, 2015.  A remand is required to allow VA to obtain authorization and request these records.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain the Veteran’s VA treatment records for the period from July 2010 to December 2015.
2. Ask the appellant to provide treatment records of Dr. Wilson from 2011 through 2015 or to complete a VA Form 21-4142 for these records.  Make two requests for the authorized records from Dr. Wilson unless it is clear after the first request that a second request would be futile.
 
YVETTE R. WHITE
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	P. Olson

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