Citation Nr: 21028028 Decision Date: 05/10/21 Archive Date: 05/10/21 DOCKET NO. 17-10 854A DATE: May 10, 2021 REMANDED Service connection for a back disorder, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease (DJD) and degenerative disc disease (DDD), is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND Service Connection for a Back Disorder is Remanded. The Veteran served on active duty from September 1973 to October 1973. This matter is on appeal from a December 2015 rating decision issued by the Regional Office (RO) in Boise, Idaho. The Veteran testified at a Board videoconference hearing in July 2019 before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. The hearing transcript has been associated with the record. This matter was previously before the Board in October 2019. The Board found that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for the back disorder, but denied the issue of service connection on the merits. The Veteran appealed the October 2019 Board Decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). A December 2020 Order by CAVC adopted a Joint Motion for Partial Remand (JMPR) filed by the parties. In the JMR, the parties agreed that the Board should not disturb the favorable finding that reopened service connection for the back disorder. The parties also agreed that the August 2017 VA examination opinion, which the Board relied upon in rendering its decision in October 2019, was inadequate. The parties agreed that the VA examiner provided no reasoned medical explanation connecting the data listed in the examination to the examiner's negative opinion. The parties explained that the VA examiner listed data concerning the history of the Veteran's back condition, including data about his service treatment records, his treatment history, and his current diagnosis, but did not connect the data to the opinion to form a rationale. Based on the foregoing, the Board finds that remand is warranted in order to obtain a VA examination addendum opinion to assist in determining service connection for a back disorder. See Nieves-Rodriguez v. Peake, 22 Vet. App. 295, 301 (2008) ("A medical examination report must contain not only clear conclusions with supporting data, but also a reasoned medical explanation connecting the two."). The issue of service connection for a back disorder is REMANDED for the following action: Request that a VA examiner review the electronic file and provide the VA medical opinion requested below. If the VA examiner determines that an additional examination of the Veteran is necessary to provide reliable opinion(s), such examination should be scheduled; however, the Veteran should not be required to report for another examination as a matter of course, if it is not found to be necessary. The VA examiner should provide the following opinion with supporting rationale. Is it at least as likely as not (50 percent or higher degree of probability) that the current back disorder was caused by or is otherwise related to service? Please specifically address the October 1973 service treatment record reflecting that the Veteran fell on his back during service. J. PARKER Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board D. Costantino, 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.