Citation Nr: 21022450 Decision Date: 04/15/21 Archive Date: 04/15/21 DOCKET NO. 17-27 720 DATE: April 15, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for thoracic spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the thoracic spine, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from September 1970 to July 1972. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an April 2015 rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In a December 2018 decision, the Board denied the Veteran’s claim for service connection for a thoracic spine disability. The Veteran appealed the denial of his claim to the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court). In an August 2020 Order, the Court granted an August 2020 Joint Motion for Remand (JMR) to vacate the December 2018 Board decision. The case was accordingly remanded to the Board for action consistent with the August 2020 JMR. 1. Entitlement to service connection for thoracic spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the thoracic spine, is remanded. In the August 2020 JMR, the parties agreed that the Board had not adequately ensured that the duty to assist was satisfied, specifically in verifying the Veteran’s report of suffering injuries in a motor vehicle accident that took place while deployed to Okinawa during his active service. The Veteran had provided specific information as to the time frame when the accident took place, as well as his location and assignment during this time frame. In light of the concerns expressed in the JMR, the Board finds that a remand is warranted for further development. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: (Continued on the next page)   Conduct any development necessary to verify the Veteran’s report of a motor vehicle accident that took place while he was deployed to Okinawa during his active service. This should include appropriate development with the Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) and/or other appropriate agencies. It is noted that the Veteran submitted numerous lay statements and correspondences with specific information as to the time frame during which the motor vehicle accident took place, as well as his location and assignment during this time frame. It appears that the motor vehicle accident took place in Okinawa while the Veteran was riding a jeep from Camp Olson to Camp Hanson between April 1971 to December 1971. At the time, the was assigned to the weapons platoon attached to the Mike Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. It appears that the accident may have involved an Okinawan garbage disposal truck. LESLEY A. REIN Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board E. Ko, Associate 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.