Citation Nr: 20044652 Decision Date: 07/06/20 Archive Date: 07/06/20 DOCKET NO. 18-46 827 DATE: July 6, 2020 REMANDED Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a low back injury with degenerative disk disease is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active duty service in the United States Army from November 1954 to November 1957, as well as active service in the United States Air Force from September 1958 to September 1975, to include service in Vietnam. For his meritorious service, the Veteran was awarded (among other awards) the Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal of a September 2017 rating decision. The Veteran testified at a Board hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in June 2020. 1. Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a low back injury with degenerative disk disease is remanded. The Veteran was last evaluated for his service-connected low back disability in December 2017. The Veteran testified at the June 2020 hearing that his low back disability has increased in severity. Given that the record demonstrates a potential increase in severity of the Veteran’s low back disability since he was last evaluated, an additional examination is warranted on remand. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: Schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination to ascertain the severity of the Veteran’s current low back disability. The entire claims file must be made available to and reviewed by the examiner. Any and all studies, tests, and evaluations deemed necessary by the examiner should be performed. The examiner is requested to review all pertinent records associated with the claims file and to comment on the severity of the Veteran’s low back disability. The examiner should report all signs and symptoms necessary for rating the Veteran’s low back disability under the rating criteria. Evan M. Deichert Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board J. Henriquez, 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.