Citation Nr: 18148418 Decision Date: 11/07/18 Archive Date: 11/07/18 DOCKET NO. 16-39 233 DATE: November 7, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a low back disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for an eye disability, to include loss of vision, is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on periods of active service from June 19, 1987 to December 5, 1987, and from November 21, 1990 to June 15, 1991. Entitlement to service connection for a low back disability, an eye disability, and diabetes mellitus are remanded. The Veteran has claimed service connection for a low back disability, vision loss, and diabetes mellitus. Treatment records from the Kernersville VA Clinic report that the Veteran has a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and severe degenerative disc disease of the low back. While a September 2016 evaluation indicates that the Veteran does not have diabetic retinopathy, medical records from the Wake Forest Baptist Hospital indicate that the Veteran was noted to have “unusual right visual field changes” in April 2007. The Board notes that the Veteran complained of “right eye irritation off and on” on his Desert Storm Out Processing Check List in May 1991. He also related his current disabilities to his service in Operation Desert Storm in his August 2014 Notice of Disagreement. “All my symptoms worsened after Desert Storm/Shield. I never made claims before because I was hoping some of these issues would go away. Since my time served in 1991, my body has never felt the same. The medication that was given to me seems to have changed my sleeping and eating habits. Dating back to shots for entry in the country of Saudi Arabia. Numerous things to my body changed after this time served.” The Veteran was scheduled for a VA examination in relation to his claims in May 2016. Unfortunately, the Veteran failed to report for these examinations; however, the evidence is not clear whether the Veteran was provided notice of these examinations. The Veteran should be afforded an additional opportunity to attend examinations to determine the etiology of any current disabilities. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Schedule the Veteran for an examination with an appropriate examiner to determine the etiology of any current back disability. The entire claims file and a copy of this remand must be made available to the examiner for review, and the examiner must specifically acknowledge receipt and review of these materials in any reports generated. The examiner is asked to provide the following opinion: Whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent probability) that the Veteran’s current lumbar disability is due to, or the result of, any incident of his period of active service. A complete rationale for all opinions must be provided. In providing the requested opinions, the examiner must address the Veteran’s lay assertions. The Veteran’s lay statements cannot be disregarded solely due to lack of contemporaneous medical evidence. If the examiner cannot provide the requested opinion without resorting to speculation, it must be so stated, and the examiner must provide the reasons why an opinion would require speculation. 2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination with an appropriate examiner to determine the etiology of any current eye disability. The entire claims file and a copy of this remand must be made available to the examiner for review, and the examiner must specifically acknowledge receipt and review of these materials in any reports generated. The examiner is asked to provide the following opinion: Whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent probability) that the Veteran’s current eye disability, to include loss of vision, is due to, or the result of, any incident of his period of active service. The examiner should specifically discuss the Veteran’s in-service report of right eye irritation on May 18, 1991. A complete rationale for all opinions must be provided. In providing the requested opinions, the examiner must address the Veteran’s lay assertions. The Veteran’s lay statements cannot be disregarded solely due to lack of contemporaneous medical evidence. If the examiner cannot provide the requested opinion without resorting to speculation, it must be so stated, and the examiner must provide the reasons why an opinion would require speculation. 3. Schedule the Veteran for an examination with an appropriate examiner to determine the etiology of his diabetes mellitus. The entire claims file and a copy of this remand must be made available to the examiner for review, and the examiner must specifically acknowledge receipt and review of these materials in any reports generated. The examiner is asked to provide the following opinion: Whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent probability) that the Veteran’s diabetes mellitus is due to, or the result of, any incident of his period of active service. A complete rationale for all opinions must be provided. In providing the requested opinions, the examiner must address the Veteran’s lay assertions. The Veteran’s lay statements cannot be disregarded solely due to lack of contemporaneous medical evidence. If the examiner cannot provide the requested opinion without resorting to speculation, it must be so stated, and the examiner must provide the reasons why an opinion would require speculation. (Continued on the next page)   4. After completing the above, and any other development deemed necessary, readjudicate the Veteran’s claims based on the entirety of the evidence. If the benefits sought on appeal are not granted to the Veteran’s satisfaction, he should be provided with a supplemental statement of the case. An appropriate period of time should be allowed for response. K. PARAKKAL Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD P.M. Johnson, Counsel