Citation Nr: 21071491 Decision Date: 11/30/21 Archive Date: 11/30/21 DOCKET NO. 15-22 927 DATE: November 30, 2021 REMANDED Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder. Service connection for a left ankle disorder. Service connection for a left hip disorder. Service connection for a right hip disorder. Service connection for a left knee disorder. Service connection right knee disorder. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from March 1983 to March 1987. The Board remanded the claims on appeal in August 2018 and August 2020 for additional development. The case has now been returned to the Board for further appellate action. The August 2018 remand was undertaken to address the Veteran's account of service, specifically that she experienced lumbar spine, left ankle, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee pain as a result of going on a large field march carrying heavy equipment and doing a lot of running in ill-fitting combat boots. A July 2019 VA examiner opined that it was less likely than not that the Veteran's lumbar spine, left ankle, hip, and knee disorders were related to service. The examiner acknowledged her recollections but explained that the record did not contain evidence of chronic disorders diagnosed in service or within a year of separation from service; however, the examiner did not address the Veteran's lay statements regarding excruciating pain from the field marches and running and could "hardly move" in the mornings resulting in functional impairment. In a subsequent medical opinion, the examiner addressed the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected pes planus and the claims on appeal and found that the claims were not caused or aggravated beyond their natural progressions by the service-connected disorder. However, the examiner did not address the Veteran's lay statements regarding functional impairment. As such, regrettably, further development is again required in order to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claims on appeal. The matters are REMANDED for the following actions: 1. Identify and obtain any pertinent, outstanding VA and private medical treatment records not already of record and associate them with the claims file. 2. Direct the claims file to a clinician to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine, left ankle, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disorders. Based on a review of the record, the clinician is asked to opine as to whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent probability or more) that the Veteran's (a) lumbar spine, (b) left ankle, (c) left and right hip, and (d) left and right knee disorders are etiologically related to service. The clinician is asked to address each body area separately. In forming the opinions, the clinician is asked to address the Veteran's July 2011 and March 2012 lay statements describing lumbar spine, left ankle, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee pain over the course of service as a result of carrying heavy equipment and wearing ill-fitting combat boots during field marches and runs. The clinician is advised that the Veteran is competent to report symptoms and conditions capable of lay observation; as such, her July 2011 and March 2012 lay statements establish in-service complaints even though they are not recorded in the service treatment records. The rationale for all opinions must be provided. If the clinician determines that examinations are necessary to provide the requested opinions, then they should be scheduled. L. HOWELL Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board A. Spigelman, 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.