Citation Nr: 21022462 Decision Date: 04/15/21 Archive Date: 04/15/21 DOCKET NO. 16-08 057 DATE: April 15, 2021 REMANDED Service connection for macular degeneration is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran, who is the appellant, had active duty service from July 1976 to December 1982. The instant case is on appeal from a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) rating decision that, in pertinent part, denied service connection for macular degeneration. The case has been before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) previously. In July 2019, the Board remanded the case in order to procure a VA examination and opinion. The opinion has since been obtained, so there has been substantial compliance with the terms of the remand. See Stegall v. West, 11 Vet. App. 268, 271 (1998). At this time, additional development of the case is needed prior to adjudication. Service Connection for Macular Degeneration The Veteran is seeking service connection for macular degeneration, claiming that his vision problems are due to a head injury that he sustained during service. The record reflects that the Veteran has been receiving Social Security Administration (SSA) disability payments since November 2014 for being legally blind. See July 2015 H&P Note. The SSA records are not part of the claims file and could be pertinent to the issue on appeal. The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court) has held that, where a veteran receives SSA benefits which are based on the determination of disability, those records are potentially relevant and should be obtained. SSA records are relevant to a claim and VA must obtain them where either (1) there is an SSA decision pertaining to a medical condition related to the one for which the veteran is seeking service connection or (2) there are specific allegations giving rise to a reasonable belief that the SSA records may pertain to the claimed disability. Golz v. Shinseki, 590 F.3d 1317, 323 (Fed. Cir. 2010). The issue is REMANDED for the following action: Request all documentation that supported the claim for SSA disability payments, including any medical examination report. If no records exist, document that in the claims file. J. PARKER Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board A. Smith, 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.