Citation Nr: 18149656
Decision Date: 11/13/18	Archive Date: 11/13/18

DOCKET NO. 16-04 004
DATE:	November 13, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disorder to include degenerative disc disease is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from June 1979 to June 1983.
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a January 2013 rating decision by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).  
The Veteran testified at a video conference hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in August 2016.  The claims file includes a transcript of the proceeding. 
1. Entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disorder to include degenerative disc disease is remanded.
The Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain a VA examination with an opinion. 
The evidence of record shows that the Veteran received a VA examination in December 2012.  After assessing the  medical records, and conducting an examination of the Veteran, the VA examiner opined that DDD was less likely than not related to his injury during service.  See December 2012 VA Examination.  The VA examiner further suggested that the Veteran’s disability was more likely than not related to age and progression to include his occupational history that involved physical activity as a nurse aide for 15 years.  In providing this opinion, the VA examiner did not provide a rationale for his conclusion.
The Veteran subsequently obtained a medical opinion from a private physician.  In an August 2016 opinion, Dr. F.G.S. opined that the Veteran’s neck pain was causally related to his injuries sustained in the military.  See August 2016 Medical Treatment Record Non-Government Facility.  The private physician, however, did not provide a rationale for his opinion. 
Furthermore, during his August 2016 hearing, the Veteran stated that he was treated at Ashtabula County Medical Center in 1994.  He also indicated that he underwent surgery in 2000.  As these medical records may hold significance to the Veteran’s claim, they must be obtained and associated with the Veteran’s claims file. 
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain any outstanding VA treatment records dated from 1996 to the present, to include any archived records.  
2. After securing any necessary release, attempt to obtain private treatment records from Ashtabula County Medical Center dated in 1994 and any additional private treatment records from Dr. F.G. Sailors.
3. After any additional records are associated with the claims file, obtain an addendum to the December 2012 VA examination.  The Veteran should be scheduled for another VA examination if determined necessary.  The examiner should provide the following opinions.
Is it at least as likely as not (50% or greater probability) that any diagnosed neck disability is etiologically related to the Veteran’s period of service (June 1979 to June 1983)?  The examiner should address the Veteran’s contention that being hit on the head by a tank hatch during training caused his disability.  The examiner should review the August 2016 opinion by Dr. Sailors. 


 
S. HENEKS
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	O. Onyeozili, Law Clerk