Citation Nr: 21007368 Decision Date: 02/09/21 Archive Date: 02/09/21 DOCKET NO. 16-59 418 DATE: February 9, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a back condition is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from October 1977 to January 1978, and February 1982 to February 1985, with additional periods of service in the Army National Guard. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) following a May 2020 Board remand. This matter was originally on appeal of an August 2013 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in North Little Rock, Arkansas. In March 2020, the Veteran testified at a hearing before the undersigned. A transcript of the hearing is of record. 1. Entitlement to service connection for a back condition is remanded. The Veteran contends that his back condition is due to his time in service. Specifically, the Veteran reported his current back condition stems from when he was moving tools in January 1983. The Veteran’s service treatment records (STRs) show the Veteran complained of mild pain at first, that gradually worsened. A January 1983 STR shows the Veteran reported the pain was dull while sitting or standing, but when bending over the pain became sharp and radiated down into his left thigh. The examiner assessed the Veteran suffered from a back strain. An April 1983 STR note shows the Veteran reported he lifted a compressor and hurt his back, suffering pain on the right side of his back by the shoulder blade. In a June 1983 STR note, the examiner noted the Veteran’s lower back pain was much improved after bed rest. He had minimal complaints and good back mobility. An August 1983 STR note shows that the Veteran complained of lower back pain for seven days. In an August 1984 STR note the examiner noted the Veteran had steady pain in his lower back for two days. The Veteran underwent a June 2020 VA examination for this claim. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran’s back condition was not related to service. The examiner noted a review of the Veteran’s c-file shows complaints of and treatment for a low back musculoskeletal condition during service, which was acute during service. The records were further silent for continued care and treatment of a low back condition. Further, the examiner noted a report of medical history from April 18, 1991, was negative for a back condition and post service records show a complaint of low back pain in 2010, 25 years post service. The examiner stated that there was a gap and no evidence of chronicity of care, opining that a nexus could not be established. The Board finds that further commentary from the VA examiner is necessary prior to rendering a decision on the claim. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain an addendum opinion from the June 2020 VA examiner. In light of the findings, please explain why the Veteran's current low back disorder, including any pathology/disease process associated with his low back, is not consistent with the back symptomatology noted in service (i.e., please explain given the nature of the complaints and diagnoses why the in-service back complaints did not likely leave chronic residuals). TANYA SMITH Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board N. Daley, 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.