Citation Nr: 18151467 Decision Date: 11/19/18 Archive Date: 11/19/18 DOCKET NO. 16-32 517 DATE: November 19, 2018 REMANDED Service connection for a low back disorder is remanded. Service connection for a right shoulder disorder is remanded. Service connection for blurry vision is remanded. Service connection for blindness is remanded.   REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from May 1969 to May 1971. The case is on appeal from a July 2015 rating decision. In the July 2016 substantive appeal, the Veteran requested a Board videoconference hearing. However, in October 2016, the Veteran withdrew his hearing request. Accordingly, the Board considers the Veteran’s request for a hearing to be withdrawn. See 38 C.F.R. § 20.704(e). On August 16, 2018, the Federal Circuit ordered the appeal of Procopio v. Wilkie, No. 17-1821 (U.S. Fed. Cir.). The order stated that the questions before the Federal Circuit include the following: “Does the phrase ‘served in the Republic of Vietnam’ in 38 U.S.C. § 1116 unambiguously include service in offshore waters within the legally recognized territorial limits of the Republic of Vietnam, regardless of whether such service included presence on or within the landmass of the Republic of Vietnam?” As of the date of this decision, Procopio is pending. As this appeal contains several issues that may be affected by the resolution of Procopio, the Board will “stay” or postpone action on these matters. (This pertains to the 11 service connection claims involving the left leg, right leg, left foot, right foot, acid reflux, neck, heart, weight gain, physical limitation, brain tumor and speech loss.) 1. Service connection for low back disorder. 2. Service connection for a right shoulder disorder. The Veteran contends he suffers from low back and right shoulder disorders which had their onset during service. In the October 2015 notice of disagreement (NOD), he specifically stated while serving aboard the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43), he was blown off the flight deck into the cat-walk where he injured his right rotator cuff. The Veteran’s service treatment records (STRs) do not contain records which show complaints or treatment for right shoulder and low back disorders. However, a January 1971 record indicated he complained of pain in his left shoulder due to a history of trauma from a fall, eight months previously. The Veteran was afforded a July 2016 VA examination in which he reported that in 1970 he was blown off a deck by a jet, injuring his left shoulder. The examiner did not address whether the Veteran has a low back or right shoulder disorder and the etiology of such. The Board notes the Veteran’s VA treatment records report osteoarthritis of the right shoulder, including in an April 2013 record. There is sufficient evidence to support that the Veteran may have low back and right shoulder disorders that had their onset during service, or are otherwise causally related. Therefore, the Board finds a VA examination and opinion is warranted. See McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79, 81 (2006). 3. Service connection for blurry vision. 4. Service connection for blindness. The Veteran contends he has blurry vision and/or blindness related to service, to include exposure to jet fuel or other chemicals in service. In the October 2015 NOD, he stated while filling a tractor on his ship during service, he was exposed to jet fuel which went behind his eyes and caused him to lose vision. While the Veteran’s STRs are silent for treatment or complaints related to his eyes or vision, he did serve onboard the USS Coral Sea, an aircraft carrier and deep-water vessel, for more than one year and seven months. The Veteran has not yet been afforded a VA examination related to his vision claims. The Board finds the evidence currently meets the low threshold for obtaining a VA examination as to these issues. See McLendon, 20 Vet. App. at 81. Lastly, in light of the remand, any relevant ongoing VA treatment records should be requested. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain VA treatment records from January 2017. 2. Thereafter, schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any low back and right shoulder disorders. All necessary tests should be conducted. The examiner should first identify any current low back and right shoulder disorders. The examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the low back and right shoulder disorders had their onset during, or are otherwise related to, service. The examiner should address the Veteran’s contentions of an in-service injury from being blown off the flight deck. A complete rationale should be provided for all opinions expressed. 3. Also, schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed vision disorder, to include blurry vision and/or blindness. All necessary tests should be conducted. The examiner should first identify any current vision disorder(s). In doing so, the examiner should identify any that are considered refractive errors. The examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that any identified, non-refractive, vision disorder had its onset during, or is otherwise related to, service, to include exposure to jet fuel or other chemicals. The Veteran’s lay contention should be discussed. A complete rationale should be provided for all opinions expressed. RYAN T. KESSEL Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD B. Isaacs, Associate Counsel