Citation Nr: 21063126 Decision Date: 10/13/21 Archive Date: 10/13/21 DOCKET NO. 17-07 390 DATE: October 13, 2021 REMANDED Service connection for residuals of a left side muscle strain, claimed as hypogonadism, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from January 1989 to April 2011. The Veteran and his wife testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge at a hearing in July 2021; a copy of the transcript is of record. Injury to Left Side of Body At the Veteran's hearing he testified that he was injured in service in 1991 which caused and continues to cause pain to the left side of his body. A January 1991 service treatment record shows that the Veteran was diagnosed with a left side strain in January 1991. During a VA examination of his reproductive system the Veteran was diagnosed with a left testicle varicocele and hypogonadism. The Veteran was service connected for his left testicle varicocele. Service connection for hypogonadism has continued to be denied. The Veteran testified that he continues to suffer from pain in the left side of his body due to his in-service injury. An examination regarding the Veteran's left side pain has not been conducted. After review of the record and in consideration of the Veteran's testimony, the Board finds that remand is necessary as the low threshold for obtaining such an examination and medical opinion has been surpassed in this case. See 38 U.S.C. § 5103A (d); McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79, 81 (2006). The matter is REMANDED for the following action: Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed disorder or residuals of his in-service left side strain, including to his left testicle. The claims file should be made available to the examiner for review. The examiner is asked to determine if the Veteran has any diagnosed disability or residuals of the January 1991 injury to his left side. The examiner is asked to specifically review the Veteran's January 1991 service treatment record (STR) which documents the January 1991 injury. If there is any diagnosed disability or residuals of the Veteran's in-service injury, the examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that any such disability or residuals was incurred in, or due to, the Veteran's service, to include his in-service injury in January 1991, or whether the Veteran's left side pain is associated with his left testicle varicocele. (Continued on the next page) The lay statements of evidence regarding onset and continuity of symptomology, specifically the July 2021 hearing testimony, should be recorded and considered. A rationale for all opinions must be provided. JOHN Z. JONES Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board A. Parrish, 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.