Citation Nr: 18159499
Decision Date: 12/20/18	Archive Date: 12/19/18

DOCKET NO. 15-22 043
DATE:	December 20, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for low back pain, claimed as back neuropathy, is remanded.
Entitlement to service connection for left leg neuropathy, claimed as secondary to herbicide agent exposure, is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from August 1967 to March 1969, with confirmed service in the Republic of Vietnam. This appeal comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from a January 2013 rating decision of the VA Regional Office (RO) in Waco, Texas.
Separately, the Board notes that the Veteran, in November 2018, furnished another Substantive Appeal, following an April 2015 rating decision and a November 2017 Statement of the Case addressing two unrelated issues.  It appears that the Regional Office is still processing this matter, and the Board will not address it in this remand.  
The Board notes that the Veteran has consistently stated that his service in Vietnam included significant combat experience with heavy lifting. In a September 2005 private psychological evaluation, the Veteran described himself as an “81 mm mortar ammo ‘humper’ and gunner.” VA treatment records from July 2007 reveal that the Veteran has been diagnosed with chronic back pain and was taking prescribed medication to manage the pain. In a June 2014 statement, the Veteran asserted that he has not “experienced trauma to [his] back other than heavy lifting of equipment and weapons during combat training and war in the jungles of Vietnam.” The Veteran’s DD Form 214 verifies his specialty as a mortarman. To date, he has not been afforded a VA examination in conjunction with this appeal to determine the etiology of his lower back pain, and this must be corrected on remand. Given the claimed relationship of the left leg neuropathy to the low back disorder, this matter must also be addressed on remand.  
The matters are REMANDED for the following action:
Schedule the Veteran for a VA spine examination to ascertain the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s lower back disability and left leg neuropathy. All necessary tests should be conducted. The claims file should be made available to and be reviewed by the examiner in conjunction with the examination. 
The examiner should address whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater likelihood) that any current back disability and left leg neuropathy are etiologically related to his active duty service and any incidents therein. As to the left leg neuropathy, also opine whether it is at least as likely as not that such disorder: 1) is etiologically related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, or 2) was caused or aggravated by the lower back disorder.  
All opinions must be supported by a complete rationale.
 
A.	C. MACKENZIE 
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	B. Banks, Associate Counsel