Citation Nr: 18140842
Decision Date: 10/09/18	Archive Date: 10/09/18

DOCKET NO. 16-21 249
DATE:	October 9, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for degenerative disc disease lumbar spine claimed as low back injury is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from June 1970 to June 1973. 
This case comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an June 2015 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in St. Paul, Minnesota. 
1. Entitlement to service connection for degenerative disc disease lumbar spine claimed as low back injury is remanded.
The Veteran contends that he has a lumbar spine condition as a result of active service. Specifically, he describes a slip and fall accident during a heavy snow storm while he was stationed in Germany. His service treatment records are negative for complaints, treatment, or diagnosis of a back injury. However, in a statement received in April 2016, a fellow serviceman recalled the Veteran suffered an injury to his back after falling. 

The Veteran was afforded a VA examination in connection with his lumbar spine disability in August 2015. The examiner included a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and summarized the evidence and reported history associated with the Veteran’s back problems. However, no opinion was provided as to whether there was an etiological relationship between his present low back disability and his in-service fall. Such renders the examination report inadequate. Barr v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 303, 311 (2007). Accordingly, a remand is required to obtain a supplemental medical opinion and an etiology opinion with respect to the condition.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination by qualified medical professionals to determine the nature and etiology of his lumbar spine disability. The examiner must review the claims file and must note that review in the report. A complete rationale for any opinion expressed should be provided. 
The examiner should opine whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that any diagnosed lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was incurred in or is otherwise related to service. The examiner must consider the Veteran’s statements regarding onset and statements regarding the continuity of symptomatology. In this regard, the examiner is 



instructed that the Veteran’s report of falling and injuring his back is deemed credible but the nature and extent of the injury is unknown.   

 
MICHAEL A. HERMAN
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	T. Grzeczkowicz, Associate Counsel