Citation Nr: 18147873
Decision Date: 11/06/18	Archive Date: 11/06/18

DOCKET NO. 16-10 061
DATE:	November 6, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for a back injury is remanded.
Entitlement to service connection for fractured neck condition, to include surgery, is remanded.
Entitlement to service connection for macular degeneration is remanded.
Entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric condition, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to include as secondary to service connected disabilities is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from May 1969 to April 1970.
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a March 2015 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  


1. Entitlement to service connection for a back injury, neck condition, macular degeneration, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.
The Board notes that on multiple occasions, the Veteran has requested a hearing before a Decision Review Officer (DRO).  However, a review of the record does not indicate that such a hearing has been held.  In October 2018, the Veteran’s representative submitted a motion to remand for hearing to comply with the Veteran’s requests. 

Accordingly, the matters are REMANDED for the following action:
1. The AOJ should schedule the Veteran for a hearing before a DRO regarding his service connection claims for a back injury, neck condition, macular degeneration, and acquired psychiatric disorder.
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2. After completing the above development, and any other development deemed necessary, readjudicate the issues on appeal.  Thereafter, if any benefits sought remain denied, provide a Supplemental Statement of the Case to the Veteran and his agent and return the appeal to the Board for appellate review, after the Veteran has had an adequate opportunity to respond.
 
Vito A. Clementi
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	N. Miller, Associate Counsel