Citation Nr: 20042368 Decision Date: 06/23/20 Archive Date: 06/23/20 DOCKET NO. 16-19 428A DATE: June 23, 2020 REMANDED Service connection for appendicitis, status post appendectomy. Service connection for depression. Service connection for a low back condition.   REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from October 1974 to July 1978. The case is on appeal from a March 2012 rating decision. The Board remanded the claims for additional development in November 2018. At that time, the Board also denied service connection for an eye disorder. 1. Service connection for appendicitis, status post appendectomy. 2. Service connection for depression. 3. Service connection for a low back condition. When last before the Board in November 2018, the Board remanded the claims of service connection for appendicitis, status post appendectomy; depression; and a back condition for new VA examinations and opinions as the opinions of record regarding each claim were not sufficient to decide the claims. In this regard, a review of the file shows that in January 2020 the RO attempted to schedule examinations with the Veteran in February 2020. At that time, he informed the RO that because he was not available at the time of the scheduled examinations, he would contact the RO to reschedule. However, the RO has not yet received any notification from the Veteran regarding his availability to reschedule the examinations. As such, the Board finds that the Veteran should be afforded another opportunity to appear for VA examinations regarding his claims. In light of the remand, updated VA treatment records should be obtained. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain VA treatment records dated since May 2020. 2. Thereafter, schedule the Veteran for an examination (or telehealth interview, records review, etc. if an in-person examination is not feasible) to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s appendicitis status post appendectomy. The entire claims file must be reviewed by the examiner. The examiner is to conduct all indicated tests. The examiner must provide an opinion regarding whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran’s appendicitis and underlying disorder had its onset in, or is otherwise related to, active military service. The examiner must specifically address the Veteran’s reports of right lower quadrant pain in his abdomen within three months of his separation from active duty and his eventual diagnosis of appendicitis in July 1979 with contemporaneous appendectomy. The examiner should provide rationale for all opinions expressed, including by citing to the record. 3. Also, schedule the Veteran for an examination (or telehealth interview, records review, etc. if an in-person examination is not feasible) to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s depression. The entire claims file must be reviewed by the examiner. The examiner is to conduct all indicated tests. The examiner must provide an opinion regarding whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran’s depression had onset in, or is otherwise related to, active military service. The examiner must also provide an opinion whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the depression is caused or aggravated by the service-connected bilateral knee disorder. Aggravation is an increase in severity beyond the natural progress of the disease. The examiner should provide rationale for all opinions expressed, including by citing to the record. 4. Also, schedule the Veteran for an examination (or telehealth interview, records review, etc. if an in-person examination is not feasible) to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s low back condition. The entire claims file must be reviewed by the examiner. The examiner is to conduct all indicated tests. The examiner must provide an opinion regarding whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran’s low back disorder had onset in, or is otherwise related to, active military service. (Continued on the next page)   The examiner must specifically address the February 1976 STR showing a low back injury, the Veteran’s statements describing back pain since service, and a January 2011 opinion from Dr. CG indicating that the Veteran had received treatment for his low back at his clinic since September 1980. The examiner should provide rationale for all opinions expressed, including by citing to the record. RYAN T. KESSEL Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board E. Gray, 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.