Citation Nr: 21069075 Decision Date: 11/17/21 Archive Date: 11/17/21 DOCKET NO. 15-28 259 DATE: November 17, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from November 2000 to November 2008. This matter comes to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a February 2013 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Montgomery, Alabama. The claim was previously remanded in March 2019 for additional development to include obtaining outstanding VA treatment records. 1. Entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder is remanded. The Veteran asserts service connection is warranted for a low back disorder incurred during active service. Service treatment records (STRs) include a complaint of low back pain in February 2006. The Veteran also reported back pain from time to time in a September 2006 medical history report. In a September 2008 separation medical history report, the Veteran reported recurrent back pain. The examiner indicated that from October 2005 to December 2006, low back pain is documented in the record periodically. The examiner also indicated that mechanical low back pain had resolved. Post-service VA treatment records show the Veteran complained of low back pain as early as September 2009. In May 2011, the Veteran reported she reinjured her back when she fell on some ice. The Veteran underwent a VA examination in July 2012. The examiner noted the STRs include a single complaint of low back pain in February 2006. Per the examiner, lumbago appears on the Veteran's problem list thereafter until separation, but no further complaints or evaluations for back pain are seen; and they opined that because there was no significant disorder diagnosed on examination, it is less likely than not that the Veteran's current complaint of back pain is related to any significant injury in service. The Board finds the examiner's opinion to be inadequate to decide the claim as the examiner did not address the Veteran's lay statements of having low back pain during service, to include on medical history reports, and continuing thereafter. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination for her claimed low back disorder. The examiner must review the claims file. If a diagnosis cannot be provided but the Veteran's condition manifests in symptoms that cause functional impairment, then the examiner should consider them a "disability" for the purpose of providing the requested opinion below. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion as to whether or not it is at least as likely as not related to service, including in-service back pain. The examiner should provide a rationale to support the opinion(s) provided. In providing the requested opinion, consider the Veteran's description of her in-service injury and symptoms as well as her post-service symptoms. If there is any medical reason to accept or reject the proposition that the Veteran's reported injury and symptoms in service and thereafter represented the onset of her current disability, this should be noted. Stated another way, do the Veteran's reports about her symptoms align with how the currently diagnosed disability/impairment is known to develop or are the Veteran's reports generally inconsistent with medical knowledge or implausible? M. C. WILSON Acting Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board D. M. Donahue Boushehri, 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.