Citation Nr: 20008261
Decision Date: 01/31/20	Archive Date: 01/30/20

DOCKET NO. 13-02 548
DATE: January 31, 2020

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disorder, to include as secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability, is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from July 1986 to December 1989.

This matter comes on appeal before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from a December 2008 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).

Following the March 2016 Supplemental Statement of the Case, VA treatment records show that the Veteran was seen by a private physician (Dr. Sebastian) for his cervical pian disorder in February 2017.  On remand, efforts should be made to obtain these treatment records as they may be relevant to the etiology of the Veteran’s cervical spine disorder, to include whether secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. 

The matters are REMANDED for the following actions:

1. Ask the Veteran to complete and return VA Forms 21-4142, Authorization and Consent to Release Information, for the private medical treatment he received from 

Dr. Gerard A. Sebastian and any other medical provider treating him for his cervical spine disorder.  After obtaining the completed VA Forms 21-4142, make reasonable efforts to obtain any outstanding private treatment records.  Any records so obtained should be associated with the claims folder.

2. Obtain any updated VA treatment records not currently of record and associate them with the electronic claims file.

3. After reviewing any additionally received medical evidence, determine whether any other development is indicated.

4. Then, readjudicate the claim on appeal. 

 

 

S. B. MAYS

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	R. Casadei, 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 This decision is not precedential, and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.