Citation Nr: 18158403 Decision Date: 12/14/18 Archive Date: 12/14/18 DOCKET NO. 16-53 552A DATE: December 14, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a back disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a left hip disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for urinary tract infections is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active military service from April 1992 to November 2012. This case comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a May 2013 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Although additional issues were addressed in the underlying rating decision, notice of disagreement, and statement of the case; the Veteran expressly indicated in a November 2016 substantive appeal that she wished to limit her appeal to entitlement to service connection for a back disability, a left hip disability, and urinary tract infections. As such, the Board will confine its consideration to those issues. The Board finds that additional development is required before the claims on appeal are decided. Service Connection – Back Disability The Veteran asserts that she has a back disability that is related to her active service. The record contains various post-service treatment notes related to back pain. To date, no VA medical opinion has been obtained with regard to the Veteran’s lower back disability. Therefore, given the Veteran’s length of service and the post-service evidence of a back disability, the Board finds that the Veteran should be afforded a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed lower back disability. McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006). Service Connection – Left Hip Disability The Veteran asserts that she has a left hip disability that is related to her active service. The record contains various post-service treatment notes related to left hip pain. To date, no VA medical opinion has been obtained with regard to the Veteran’s left hip disability. Therefore, given the Veteran’s length of service and the post-service evidence of a left hip disability, the Board finds that the Veteran should be afforded a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed left hip disability. McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006). Service Connection – Urinary Tract Infections The Veteran asserts that she has urinary tract infections that are related to her active service. Private treatment records from her time in active service show a December 2003 diagnosis of chronic recurrent urinary tract infections. Post-service treatment records also reveal numerous treatment records related to urinary tract infections. To date, no VA medical opinion has been obtained with regard to the Veteran’s urinary tract infections. Thus, the Board finds the Veteran should be afforded a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed urinary tract infections. McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006). The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Identify and obtain any pertinent, outstanding VA and private treatment records and associate them with the claims file. 2. Then, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present back disability. The claims file must be made available to, and reviewed by the examiner. Any indicated studies should be performed. Based on the examination results and the review of the record, the examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or better probability) that any currently present back disability had its onset during the Veteran’s active service, or is otherwise etiologically related to such service. The examiner must consider the Veteran’s lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of her symptoms. The rationale for all opinions expressed must be provided. 3. Also, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present left hip disability. The claims file must be made available to, and reviewed by the examiner. Any indicated studies should be performed. Based on the examination results and the review of the record, the examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or better probability) that any currently present left hip disability had its onset during the Veteran’s active service, or is otherwise etiologically related to such service. The examiner must consider the Veteran’s lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of her symptoms. The rationale for all opinions expressed must be provided. 4. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed urinary tract infections. The claims file must be made available to, and reviewed by the examiner. Any indicated studies should be performed. Based on the examination results and the review of the record, the examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or better probability) that any diagnosed chronic urinary tract infections had their onset during the Veteran’s active service, or are otherwise etiologically related to such service. The examiner must consider the Veteran’s lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of her symptoms. The rationale for all opinions expressed must be provided. 5. Confirm that the VA examination reports and all medical opinions provided comport with this remand and undertake any other development determined to be warranted. 6. Then, readjudicate the issues on appeal. If a decision is adverse to the Veteran, issue a supplemental statement of the case and allow appropriate time for response. Then, return the case to the Board. Kristin Haddock Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD C. O’Donnell, Associate Counsel