Citation Nr: 20005683 Decision Date: 01/23/20 Archive Date: 01/23/20 DOCKET NO. 17-07 097 DATE: January 23, 2020 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a back condition is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served in the Army Reserves from January 1998 to May 1998, and from July 2001 to August 2001. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an April 2013 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Veteran testified at a Travel Board hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in October 2019. A transcript of the hearing is of record. Entitlement to service connection for a back condition is remanded. At the October 2019 Board hearing, the Veteran testified that he had a positive private opinion from Dr. L, written a “couple of years ago,” linking his back condition to his motor vehicle accident in service. It was noted that Dr. L was now a VA provider. Upon review of the claims file, the Board find that this letter is not of record. Therefore, on remand, missing private treatment records from Dr. L and opinion should be obtained as they could potentially assist the Veteran in his service connection claim for a back condition. Specifically, the Veteran should be requested to complete a VA Form 21-4142, Authorization and Consent to Release Information to VA, for the release of the private records from Dr. L. Additionally, the RO should note that according to the Veteran, Dr. L is now a VA provider; therefore, the RO should also make all attempts to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records from Dr. L. The matters are REMANDED for the following actions: 1. Obtain any outstanding VA or private treatment records. Specifically, contact the Veteran and request that he provide or authorize the release of any private treatment records from Dr. L. Also, make all attempts to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records from Dr. L. Associate these records with the claims file. 2. Thereafter, readjudicate the claim on appeal. If the benefit sought remains denied, issue the Veteran and his representative a supplemental statement of the case and provide a reasonable opportunity to respond before returning the matter to the Board for further appellate review. MICHAEL MARTIN Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Saudiee Brown, 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.