Citation Nr: 18143492 Decision Date: 10/19/18 Archive Date: 10/19/18 DOCKET NO. 16-29 505 DATE: October 19, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a back disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a neck disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a left hip disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a right hip disability is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from July 1973 to July 1976 and from June 1979 to June 1983. This matter came before the Board of Veterans Appeals (Board) on appeal from a December 2014 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). Entitlement to service connection for a back disability, a neck disability, and a left and right hip disability are remanded. The Veteran contends that his back, neck and bilateral hip disabilities were caused by heavy lifting required by his in-service duties and by an accident during cold weather survival training in the spring of 1980. In a November 2005 statement, the Veteran stated that he was injured in a skiing accident while stationed at Fort Lewis, and was taken by ambulance for treatment to the Army Hospital and that he was treated for a knee injury and put on profile. The Board’s review indicates that the Veteran has not yet been provided a VA examination for his claimed disabilities. The Board notes that October 2014 private treatment records document rheumatoid arthritis, back pain and avascular necrosis of the hips. The Veteran’s DD-214 indicates that he worked as a vehicle mechanic, which is consistent with his account of heavy lifting during service. March 1980 service treatment records contain a record of treatment at Madigan Army Medical Center for a twisted knee. The record states that the injury was incurred while skiing on the previous day. The record also notes that the Veteran was injured in the field and that he was assessed for a left knee injury and placed on profile, consistent with the Veteran’s report of his in-service injury. As the record contains both competent evidence that the claimant has current disabilities and evidence of the Veteran’s claimed in-service injury, remand for VA examinations is required. McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79, 81 (2006). The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Ask the Veteran to complete a VA Form 21-4142 for any private providers who treat him for his disabilities. Make two requests for the authorized records from all identified providers, unless it is clear after the first request that a second request would be futile. 2. Obtain the Veteran’s VA treatment records for the period from December 2015 to the Present. 3. Schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination, to determine the etiology of any current neck, back, left hip and right hip disability. The examiner should review the file and provide a complete rationale for all opinions expressed. For any current neck, back, left hip and right hip disability found to be diagnosed, the examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that any such disability is related to the Veteran’s active service, to include the March 1980 ski accident documented in his service treatment records. In providing the opinion, the examiner should consider and discuss any lay statements of record, to include the Veteran’s statements regarding heavy lifting during service. 4. If upon completion of the above action the appeal remains denied, the case should be returned to the Board after compliance with appellate procedures. E. I. VELEZ Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD A. Arnold, Associate Counsel