Citation Nr: 21025873 Decision Date: 04/29/21 Archive Date: 04/29/21 DOCKET NO. 17-41 647 DATE: April 29, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for low back strain is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a right hip condition is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a left hip condition is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a right knee condition is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a left hip condition is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a right ankle condition is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active military service from January 2004 to September 2011. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a September 2013 rating decision of a VA Regional Office (RO). The Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge at a March 2021 hearing before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board). Although the Veteran has a representative, she elected to represent herself during her recent hearing. 1. Entitlement to service connection for low back strain is remanded. The Veteran reports a back disorder as a result of active service. The Veteran’s service treatment records (STRs) reflect treatment for lower back pain. See, e.g., January 2005 STR. During the Veteran’s March 2021 Board hearing, the Veteran testified that she began experiencing lower back pain during active service and that she had experienced chronic lower back pain since leaving active service. The Board notes that the Veteran has not been afforded a VA examination on the nature and etiology of her claimed condition. Accordingly, this claim must be remanded for additional development. 2. and 3. Entitlement to service connection for a right hip condition and entitlement to service connection for a left hip condition are remanded. The Veteran reports left and right hip conditions as a result of active service. The Veteran’s STRs reflect treatment for hip pain. See, e.g., February 2006 STR. During the Veteran’s March 2021 Board hearing, the Veteran testified that she began experiencing hip pain during active service and that she had experienced chronic hip pain since leaving active service. The Board notes that the Veteran has not been afforded a VA examination on the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions. Accordingly, these claims must be remanded for additional development. 4. and 5. Entitlement to service connection for a right knee condition and entitlement to service connection for a left hip condition are remanded. The Veteran reports left and right knee conditions as a result of active service. The Veteran’s STRs reflect treatment for knee pain. See, e.g., March 2004 and February 2008 STR. During the Veteran’s March 2021 Board hearing, the Veteran testified that she began experiencing knee pain during active service and that she had experienced chronic knee pain since leaving active service. The Board notes that the Veteran has not been afforded a VA examination on the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions. Accordingly, these claims must be remanded for additional development. 6. Entitlement to service connection for a right ankle condition is remanded. The Veteran reports a right ankle condition as a result of active service. The Veteran’s STRs reflect evidence of posttraumatic change of the right ankle. See, e.g., June 2008 STR. During the Veteran’s March 2021 Board hearing, the Veteran testified that she began experiencing right ankle pain during active service and that she had experienced chronic right ankle pain since leaving active service. The Board notes that the Veteran has not been afforded a VA examination on the nature and etiology of her claimed condition. Accordingly, this claim must be remanded for additional development. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Forward the Veteran’s claims file to a qualified medical professional for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s claimed lower back, bilateral knee, bilateral hip, and right ankle disabilities. The Veteran’s entire record (including this remand) must be reviewed by the examiner. The examiner must provide opinions, with a full rationale, that respond to the following: After reviewing the record, the examiner must first opine whether there exists a clinical diagnosis for each claimed condition. If no clinical diagnosis is made, the examiner must ascertain whether the Veteran’s pain associated with the claimed condition constitutes a functional impairment of earning capacity. If the Veteran’s pain does not reach this threshold and thus should not be considered a disability, the examiner should so clarify. If either a clinical diagnosis or a functional impairment of earning capacity due to any claimed condition is ascertained, the examiner should next opine whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran’s claimed condition was: 1) incurred during or as a result of service, or 2) caused or aggravated (worsened beyond natural progression) by their service-connected left ankle disability. Any opinion expressed by the examiner MUST be accompanied by a complete rationale. If medical literature is relied upon in rendering a determination, the examiner should identify and specifically cite each reference material utilized. The Board recognizes the practical difficulties of scheduling an examination in view of the COVID-19 epidemic, and requests flexibility and understanding in affording the Veteran an opportunity to report for an examination. A. C. MACKENZIE Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board E. Hicks, 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.