Citation Nr: 21063369 Decision Date: 10/14/21 Archive Date: 10/14/21 DOCKET NO. 17-50 417A DATE: October 14, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for esophageal stricture and stenosis, also claimed as dysphagia, is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for scoliosis with degenerative joint disease and spinal stenosis is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for inflammation of meniscus of the left knee is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served in the United States Marine Corps from September 1972 to August 1975. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a September 2014 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). Regrettably, the Board finds the Veteran's claims must be remanded for further development. Specifically, the Board finds a VA examination is necessary for the Veteran's claims for service connection for esophageal stricture and stenosis, scoliosis with degenerative joint disease and spinal stenosis (back disability), and inflammation of meniscus of the left knee (knee disability). The Veteran has not been afforded an examination for his esophageal stricture and stenosis, back disability, or knee disability. The Board finds the low threshold requirement has been met for a VA examination. See 38 U.S.C. § 5103A(d); McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79, 81 (2006) (in disability compensation claims, VA must provide a medical examination when there is (1) competent evidence of a current disability, (2) evidence establishing that an event, injury, or disease occurred in service, (3) an indication that the disability may be associated with the Veteran's service or with another service-connected disability, but (4) insufficient competent medical evidence on file for VA to make a decision on the claim). Here, the record reflects evidence of severe scoliosis with multilevel severe facet arthropathy, dysphagia, and left knee injury with possible tendon damage. See VA Treatment Records, Service Treatment Records. The Veteran contends that his disabilities are due to service. The Board finds that there are no nexus statements for the Veteran's claims to determine whether service connection is allowed. Given such, the Board finds a remand is warranted to afford the Veteran VA examinations for esophageal stricture and stenosis, back disability, and knee disability. In addition, the Board finds a remand is necessary as the record contains a letter stating that the Veteran is receiving social security disability. After review of the record, the Board finds the Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) records have not been obtained. A remand is required for all issues on appeal to allow the VA to request these records. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain the Veteran's federal records from the SSA. Document all requests for information as well as all responses in the claims file. 2. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination by an appropriate examiner to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's esophageal stricture and stenosis. The examiner must review the claims file. Any and all studies, tests, and evaluations deemed necessary by the examiner should be performed. All opinions must be supported by a rationale. (a.) Whether it is at least as likely as not (at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence) that the Veteran's esophageal stricture and stenosis manifested in service or is otherwise causally or etiologically related to his military service. 3. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination by an appropriate examiner to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disability. The examiner must review the claims file. Any and all studies, tests, and evaluations deemed necessary by the examiner should be performed. All opinions must be supported by a rationale. (a.) Whether it is at least as likely as not (at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence) that the Veteran's back disability manifested in service or is otherwise causally or etiologically related to his military service. (b.) Whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's back disability was caused or aggravated by his knee disability. 4. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination by an appropriate examiner to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's knee disability. The examiner must review the claims file. Any and all studies, tests, and evaluations deemed necessary by the examiner should be performed. All opinions must be supported by a rationale. (a.) Whether it is at least as likely as not (at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence) that the Veteran's knee disability manifested in service or is otherwise causally or etiologically related to his military service. (b.) Whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's knee disability was caused or aggravated by his back disability. K. Anderson Acting Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board Glaeser, Jennifer 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.