Citation Nr: 18151003 Decision Date: 11/19/18 Archive Date: 11/16/18 DOCKET NO. 14-40 072 DATE: November 19, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a neck disorder is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from April 1972 to April 1978. The Board notes that although the April 2013 rating decision from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) New Orleans Regional Office (RO), denied the Veteran’s claims for service connection for a neck condition, back condition and hearing loss, the Veteran is only appealing his neck condition claim. See, Veteran’s September 2014 VA Form 9. Since filing his appeal, the Veteran moved from Louisiana to Wisconsin; hence this matter was transferred to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Reginal Office. While the Board sincerely regrets the delay, additional development is required before the Veteran’s claim for service connection for his neck condition can be adjudicated on the merits. The Board notes that the Veteran has not had a specific VA examination in connection with his claim for entitlement to service connection for a neck condition. The March 2013 VA examination (the supporting medical opinion in the rating decision denying the Veteran’s claim) did not include a cervical spine (neck) examination. Rather, it was based on a thoracolumbar (back) examination, which is inadequate to determine the nature and etiology of a neck condition. When VA undertakes to provide a VA examination, it must ensure that the examination is adequate. Barr v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 303, 312 (2007). The Board finds that the July 2012 VA Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) which showed spondylotic changes in the Veteran’s neck, indicates that the Veteran has a diagnosed neck condition, but that the medical evidence of record does not contain sufficient competent medical evidence to determine whether or not the Veteran’s current neck condition is etiologically related to his military service. Hence, a cervical spine (neck) examination is warranted to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s neck disorder. 38 C.F.R. § 3.159 (c)(4); McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79, 81 (2006). The matters are REMANDED for the following actions: Schedule the Veteran for a cervical spine (neck) VA examination in connection with his claim for a neck disability. The Veteran's claims file, to include a copy of this remand, should be provided to the examiner. The examiner is asked to opine as to whether it is as least as likely as not (50 percent probability or more) that the Veteran’s neck disability had its onset in service or is otherwise the result of an incident in service. The examiner should discuss any lay statements made by the Veteran with respect to the etiology of his neck condition. If the examiner must resort to speculation for the requested opinion, an explanation as to why this is so, is required. Michael J. Skaltsounis Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD J.B. King, Associate Counsel