Citation Nr: 20023950 Decision Date: 04/07/20 Archive Date: 04/07/20 DOCKET NO. 19-32 508 DATE: April 7, 2020 REMANDED Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is remanded. Service connection for bilateral hip disabilities is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served in the Virginia Army National Guard. She had a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) from January 20, 2016 to June 6, 2016. The appellant is service connected for a disability. Therefore, the appellant has Veteran status. 1. Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is remanded. The Veteran contends that she has a lumbar spine disability due to ACDUTRA. Specifically, the Veteran contends that her lower back pathologies are due to an incident where she fell out of a truck during a period of ACDUTRA. The Board finds that remand is necessary for further development to confirm the periods of service. An August 1, 2017 DA Form 2173, Statement of Medical Examination and Duty Status shows that the appellant reported to a military clinic on that date and was seen for a back injury. She told a physician’s assistant that she fell off a truck and hit her back. No specific date of the injury was recorded. A completed copy of the form states that the Veteran was on ACDUTRA from July 29, 2017 to August 12, 2017. See August 1, 2017 Statement of Medical Examination and Duty Status. The exact periods of ACDUTRA are unclear. She had one confirmed period of ACDUTRA from January 20, 2016 to June 6, 2016. The August 1, 2017 Form 2173 indicates that the Veteran had a period of ACDUTRA from July 29, 2017 to August 12, 2017. The Form 2173 implies that the Veteran fell from a truck and injured her back during this period, however the exact date of the Veteran’s injury is not recorded. Personnel files of record contain no information relating to period of ACDUTRA from July 29, 2017 to August 12, 2017. The periods of ACDUTRA have not been completely verified. The Veteran was afforded a VA examination in August 2018. The examiner noted that the Veteran had served a total of three years in the Army. The examiner diagnosed her with lumbar paraspinal tendonitis and concluded that the Veteran’s “lower back pain, herniated/annular disc bulge C4-C5,” was at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by the claimed fall off a truck during service. The examiner explained that service treatment records revealed a history of recurrent low back symptoms during military service for which the Veteran was evaluated and treated and that, due to an onset during military service and an absence of symptoms or diagnoses prior to service, it is more likely than not that the Veteran’s current low back condition is related to and onset during military service. See August 2018 Examination. The August 2018 examiner’s opinion is based in part on the assumption that the appellant was on active duty in the Army. The appellant has service in the Virginia Army National Guard and has one verified period of ACDUTRA from January 2016 to June 2016. She potentially had other periods of ACDUTRA. 2. Service connection for bilateral hip disabilities is remanded. The appellant contends she has bilateral hip pain, iliopsoas tendinitis, and labrum tears that are due to her service. Remand is necessary to obtain further development. As explained above, the Veteran’s periods of ACDUTRA and her status in the Army National Guard have not been fully verified. Remand is necessary for further development to confirm the Veteran’s periods of service. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Undertake appropriate development to verify any periods of Army National Guard service, active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. Particular care should be taken to verify ACDUTRA from July 29, 2017 to August 12, 2017. H. N. SCHWARTZ Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board S. Morse 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.