Citation Nr: 20028136 Decision Date: 04/22/20 Archive Date: 04/22/20 DOCKET NO. 13-28 382A DATE: April 22, 2020 ORDER Entitlement to service connection for a low back condition is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from June 2006 to August 2008. In April 2017, a videoconference hearing was held before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. A transcript is of record. In August 2017, the Board remanded this case for additional development. The Veteran contends that his current low back condition is related to his military service. See April 2017 hearing transcript. On June 2019 VA examination, the VA examiner diagnosed the Veteran’s mid-low back pain symptoms as mild scoliosis of the thoracic spine and opined that the Veteran’s current back condition was less likely as not incurred in or caused by the claim in-service injury. However, the VA examiner noted that a mood disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) “[could] lead to high level of stress which could lead to muscular tension which in fact [could] be physically felt by a person as musculature pain without any pertinent physical findings in physical examination beside muscle tension and/or spasm with some deficiency in [range of motion].” The VA examiner also stated that the Veteran’s PTSD exacerbated his back pain and was likely a trigger for the pain manifested, just not the direct origin. As the Veteran is service-connected for PTSD with major depressive disorder, the Board finds that remand is warranted for a clarifying addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran’s back condition is at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated beyond its normal progression by his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: Obtain an addendum opinion from the examiner who conducted the June 2019 VA examination or an appropriate clinician. After reviewing the record, the examiner is asked to opine as to whether the Veteran’s back condition is at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated beyond its normal progression by his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder. If the examiner finds additional examination necessary, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination. A. ISHIZAWAR Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board A. Griffin, 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.