Citation Nr: 19166014 Decision Date: 08/26/19 Archive Date: 08/26/19 DOCKET NO. 16-12 257 DATE: August 26, 2019 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a back disorder is remanded. ISSUE STAYED The issue of entitlement to service connection for prostate cancer is stayed. In July 2019, the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) enacted a stay on all pending claims related to herbicide exposure for personnel who had service aboard ships in offshore waters within the legally recognized territorial limits of the Republic of Vietnam as well as those involving herbicide exposure based on service in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The Veteran’s claim involves claimed service in the Korean DMZ, accordingly, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) must “stay” or postpone action on this matter. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in from June 1966 to May 1969. These matters come before the Board on appeal from a rating decision by a VA Regional Office (RO). In February 2019, the Veteran testified at a hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge; a transcript of the hearing is of record. After the February 2019 hearing, the Veteran submitted a medical opinion which potentially links his claimed back disorder to an injury that he testified he incurred during service. However, this opinion is speculative in nature and not sufficient to decide the claim at this time. Remand for another medical opinion is warranted. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: The claims file should be sent to an appropriate examiner to offer an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the current back disorder is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, to include the injury in a truck accident that the Veteran testified about in February 2019. The need for an examination is left to the discretion of the examiner. A rationale for all opinions offered is requested as the Board is precluded from making any medical findings. Nathan Kroes Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board D. Havelka, Counsel The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential, and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.