Citation Nr: 21016186 Decision Date: 03/22/21 Archive Date: 03/22/21 DOCKET NO. 17-31 120 DATE: March 22, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected lumbar strain is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served in the Army from November 1996 to November 1999. In February 2020, the Veteran testified before the undersigned Veteran’s Law Judge (VLJ) at a hearing in San Antonio, Texas. A transcript of this hearing has been associated with the claims file. The Veteran’s claim was last before the Board of Veterans Appeals (Board) in March 2020 wherein it was remanded for additional development. While this development was completed, the Board finds that another remand is warranted to allow for the development of the Veteran’s claim. Entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected lumbar strain is remanded. As explained in the March 2020 remand, the Veteran testified that he receives care from a private doctor for his service-connected back disorder and that he has to go to his doctor when his back goes out so that he can get an excuse from work. The Veteran’s file contains medical records from Dr. O.E. that reference the Veteran’s back. However, the most recent record is from January 13, 2017. Given that the Veteran does not seek care at a VA Medical Center, the Board remanded the claim to obtain these records. The agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) complied with the Board’s requests to obtain information and attempted to develop the record in March and May 2020. However, the Veteran did not return a completed authorization form for Dr. O.E. prior to the issuance of the Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) in August 2020. However, one week later, the Veteran applied for service connection for anxiety and completed a release for Dr. O.E, but only provided one medical record dated July 2020. Given that VA now has a release for these records and the records since January 13, 2017 are still outstanding, a remand for these records is required. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Obtain private treatment records from Dr. O.E. from January 2017 forward, making all necessary efforts to do so. Bethany L. Buck Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board I. M. Hitchcock 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.