Citation Nr: 20054401 Decision Date: 08/17/20 Archive Date: 08/17/20 DOCKET NO. 17-41 082 DATE: August 17, 2020 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for lumbosacral strain (claimed as chronic low back strain with degeneration) is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from October 1977 to March 1982 and from August 1982 to August 1987. These matters are before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from October 2014 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Board denied the issue considered herein in May 2019. The Veteran appealed the Board's decision to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court), which issued an order in January 2020 granting a Joint Motion for Remand (JMR) with regard to the Veteran’s claim for entitlement to service connection for a back disability. Pursuant to the JMR, the Board finds that an additional medical opinion is required to determine the etiology of the Veteran’s lumbosacral strain for further consideration of the Veteran’s lay statements. Additionally, VA treatment records dated August 2017 indicate that the Veteran is applying for Social Security Disability. Such records must be requested on remand. Associate any outstanding VA treatment records with the claims file. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: 1. Associate any heretofore unassociated VA treatment records with the claims file. 2. Request the Veteran’s records from the Social Security Administration concerning her disability claim. 3. Obtain an addendum medical opinion from a medical professional regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s lumbosacral strain. The medical professional should obtain from the Veteran and record in the report onset and continuity of symptoms she reports. The medical professional must specifically consider the Veteran’s lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms (see, e.g., the Veteran’s statements at the September 2014 VA examination and his statements in a January 2015 Notice of Disagreement which are considered credible for the purpose of this opinion only). Following a review of the evidence of record, specifically noting consideration of the Veteran’s lay statements, the medical professional is requested to provide the following opinion: Determine whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or higher) that the Veteran’s low back strain began during or is otherwise related to her active duty service. Why or why not? A complete rationale for these opinions must be provided. If the examiner is unable to provide these opinions without resorting to speculation, he or she must explain why this is so. Jennifer White Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Aniya J. Escott, 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.