Citation Nr: 21075358 Decision Date: 12/20/21 Archive Date: 12/20/21 DOCKET NO. 17-26 962 DATE: December 20, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for residuals of ventral hernia repair is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from December 2003 to March 2005. This matter come before the Board of Veteran's Appeal (Board) on appeal from an April 2015 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). This matter was previously remanded by the Board for additional development in April 2019. However, another remand is necessary to ensure that the Veteran is afforded full compliance with the statutory duty to assist. Entitlement to service connection for residuals of ventral hernia repair. The Veteran contends that she is entitled to service connection for residuals of ventral hernia repair because her hernia began while she was deployed in Iraq in 2004. Specifically, she believes her hernia was caused by wearing heavy body armor and carrying heavy loads. See February 2016 Correspondence. In support of her claim, the Veteran has submitted pictures and statements from other service members. In April 2019, the Board remanded the Veteran's claim to obtain a medical opinion on the etiology of her hernia. In the opinion, the examiner stated that "a detailed review of the [service treatment records] documented no diagnosis of a ventral hernia. Post-deployment examination dated 1/15/2005 and 2/17/2005 documented no ventral/umbilical hernia." However, the record includes a January 5, 2005 service treatment record documenting that the Veteran was seen at 10:30 for menstrual pain and a painful hernia [illegible] in abdomen." Therefore, a remand is needed to obtain an addendum opinion that addresses this treatment record. See Barr v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 303, 311 (2007) (once VA undertakes the effort to provide an examination for a service connection claim, even if not statutorily obligated to do so, it must provide an adequate one). This matter is REMANDED for the following actions: 1. Arrange for an appropriate health care provider, (other than the February 2020 examiner), to review the Veteran's claims file and provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran's hernia (claimed as residuals of ventral hernia repair), was incurred in or is otherwise related to service. The examiner must consider and address the Veteran's in-service January 2005 treatment for complaints of "menstrual pain + painful hernia (illegible) in abdomen." The examiner's attention is also directed to the August 2007 VA ER treatment record where the Veteran reported that she had been previously diagnosed with a hernia more than 6 months prior to the ER visit. If the reviewing health care provider finds that physical examination or telehealth interview of the Veteran and/or diagnostic testing is necessary, such should be accomplished. The examiner is advised that the Veteran is competent to report symptoms, treatment, and injuries, and that her reports must be considered in formulating the requested opinion. However, if there is a medical reason to doubt its veracity, the examiner should explain why the Veteran's statements or recollection are inconsistent with the evidence in this case, medical principles relating to the onset and progress of the disease, the specific findings in the record, and/or your professional judgment. A clear rationale for all opinions would be helpful and a discussion of the facts and medical principles involved would be of considerable assistance to the Board. M. Donohue Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board Oquendo, L., 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.