Citation Nr: 21063548
Decision Date: 10/14/21	Archive Date: 10/14/21

DOCKET NO. 19-18 906
DATE: October 14, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to an increased rating higher than 20 percent for the service-connected back disability is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from May 1963 to September 1989. The present matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from an October 2018 rating decision.

In September 2021, the Veteran attended a virtual hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. This case is being processed under the Board's "One Touch" program to expedite resolution of the appeal, and a transcript from the hearing will be associated with the file at a later time.

The Board finds that a remand for a new examination and updated treatment records is necessary. 

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Obtain the Veteran's Walla Walla VA treatment records from June 2020 to the present.

2. Ask the Veteran to complete VA Form 21-4142 for Tri-City Orthopaedics and other providers who have treated his back since 2019. Make two requests for the authorized records unless it is clear after the first request that a second request would be futile.

3. Schedule the Veteran for an updated VA back examination with an examiner other than the provider who conducted the October 2018 examination. The Veteran travels to another state during the wintertime so please coordinate with the Veteran to ensure his exam is scheduled in the right location. 

 

 

 

MICHELLE L. KANE

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	M. Lavan

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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.