Citation Nr: 18149864
Decision Date: 11/13/18	Archive Date: 11/13/18

DOCKET NO. 13-18 340A
DATE:	November 13, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had active service from October 1958 to September 1960.  
In a November 2016 decision, the Board in part determined that service connection was not warranted for a lumbar spine disorder.  The Veteran appealed the denial of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder to the U S Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court), and in March 2018, the matter was vacated and remanded to the Board. 
1. Entitlement to a lumbar spine disorder is remanded.
Pursuant to the March 2018 Court decision, the Board finds a medical opinion is needed to determine whether the Veteran’s lumbar spine disorder is related to service.  
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Undertake appropriate development to obtain any outstanding treatment records, including any non-VA treatment records.  
2. Obtain a medical opinion to determine whether the lumbar spine disorder is related to service.  All pertinent evidence of record must be made available to and reviewed by the examiner.  The medical professional providing the opinion should state whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the disorder first manifest in active service or is etiologically related to service, notably the in-service parachute jumps.  The examiner must provide a rationale for all opinions expressed.  
If an examiner is unable to provide any required opinion, the examiner should explain why.  If an examiner cannot provide an opinion without resorting to mere speculation, a complete explanation as to why this is so should be provided.  If the inability to provide a more definitive opinion is the result of a need for additional information, the additional information that is needed should be identified.  
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3. Thereafter, readjudicate the issue.  If the benefit sought on appeal remains denied, the Veteran should be provided a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).  The SSOC must contain notice of all relevant actions taken on the claim for benefits, to include a summary of the evidence and applicable law and regulations considered pertinent to the issue currently on appeal.  An appropriate period of time should be allowed for response.
 
T. REYNOLDS
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	N. Snyder, counsel