Citation Nr: 19166313 Decision Date: 08/27/19 Archive Date: 08/27/19 DOCKET NO. 19-15 818 DATE: August 27, 2019 REMANDED Service connection for a groin condition, to include as due to Gulf War service is remanded. Service connection for a back condition, to include as due to Gulf War service is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from March 1990 to March 1994, to include service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations from March 1991 to May 1991. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a December 2018 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). 1. Service connection for a groin condition, to include as due to Gulf War service 2. Service connection for a back condition, to include as due to Gulf War service The Veteran asserts that he suffers from groin and back conditions, which began during service and have continued to the present time. He alternatively asserts that the conditions were related to his exposures during the Persian Gulf War. Although several VA examination opinions are of record, the Board finds a remand is needed to obtain an additional opinion addressing whether the claimed groin and back conditions. While a December 2018 VA back condition examiner diagnosed degenerative arthritis of both hip joints and the spine, she did not provide an opinion on whether the diagnosed arthritis was related to service. Additionally, on VA Persian Gulf examination in December 2018, the same examiner opined that that the claimed groin condition was not due to the Gulf War. In support, she noted that the Veteran reported pulling his right groin while in service and experiencing pain since that time but concluded there was no documentation found in the service treatment records. This opinion, however, is based, in part, upon an inaccurate factual premise, as a review of the service treatment records shows treatment in April 1990 for a groin strain. Also, although the examiner noted the x-ray evidence of early degenerative arthritis of the spine, it is unclear if she attributed the Veteran’s groin symptoms to the degenerative arthritis or a condition with a clear etiology, and if so, whether that condition was related to service. She also did not provide an adequate explanation for the conclusions reached. Accordingly, a VA addendum opinion is needed. The records also indicate there may be outstanding treatment records. During the December 2018 VA back conditions examination and in a May 2019 statement, the Veteran reported being treated by a civilian doctor and receiving recent treatment from a urologist and orthopedic doctor. However, these records are not associated with the claims file. On remand, outstanding VA and private treatment records should be requested. The matters are REMANDED for the following actions: 1. Ask the Veteran to provide the names and addresses of all medical care providers who have recently treated him for his claimed groin and back disabilities. Also request that the Veteran complete the appropriate medical records authorization for the Veteran’s private medical providers. After securing any necessary releases, request any relevant records identified that are not duplicates of those associated with the claims file. In addition, obtain updated VA treatment records dated. If any requested records are unavailable, the Veteran should be notified of such. 2. After records development is completed, send the claims file to an appropriate VA examiner to obtain an opinion regarding the claimed groin and back conditions. If an examination is deemed necessary to respond to the questions presented, one should be scheduled. Following review of the claims file, the examiner should respond to the following: a. With respect to the claimed groin condition: (1) Identify any diagnoses currently associated with the Veteran’s claimed groin symptoms. If a diagnosis pertaining to any of the claimed symptoms is rendered, the examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the condition was incurred in or is otherwise related to service. The examiner should explain why or why not, to include addressing service treatment records in April 1990 documenting a groin strain and the Veteran’s assertions of continuous symptoms since service. (2) If there is no diagnosis to account for the Veteran’s claimed groin symptoms, the examiner should indicate whether there are objective indications of chronic disability and whether such represents an undiagnosed illness associated with the Veteran’s service in the Persian Gulf.   b. With respect to the claimed back condition: (1) Identify any diagnoses currently associated with the Veteran’s claimed back symptoms. If a diagnosis pertaining to any of the claimed symptoms is rendered, the examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the condition was incurred in or is otherwise related to service. The examiner should explain why or why not, to include addressing the Veteran’s assertions of continuous symptoms since service. (2) If there is no diagnosis to account for the Veteran’s claimed back symptoms, the examiner should indicate whether there are objective indications of chronic disability and whether such represents an undiagnosed illness associated with the Veteran’s service in the Persian Gulf. A complete rationale for all opinions must be provided. K. A. BANFIELD Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board M. C. Birder, 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.