Citation Nr: 21032681 Decision Date: 05/27/21 Archive Date: 05/27/21 DOCKET NO. 16-45 455 DATE: May 27, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to an increased rating for a lumbar strain, which is currently 10 percent disabling, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from June 2008 to May 2013. This case comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal of a March 2015 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran contends she is entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected lumbar strain. The Veteran was initially rated at 20 percent for her service-connected lumbar strain disability following her active service. In a September 2014 rating decision, the Veteran's rating of 20 percent for her lumbar strain disability was decreased to 10 percent effective December 1, 2014. A March 2015 rating decision continued the Veteran's 10 percent evaluation. The Veteran filed her timely VA Form 21-0958 Notice of Disagreement (NOD) in April 2015. The RO issued a Supplemental Statement of the Case in August 2016. The record shows the Veteran was scheduled for a Board hearing in July 2019. The Veteran failed to appear. The Veteran has not shown cause for failing to appear and has not requested another hearing. The case is now before the Board. The Veteran was afforded a VA back examination in February 2015 and an addendum opinion in March 2015. On the Veteran's NOD, she reported excruciating pain during her VA examination range of motion testing, but she tried to comply with the examiner's requests. Additionally, the Veteran's VA examination is approximately six years old, and there is evidence the Veteran's disability may have worsened. VA medical records from February 2019 note that the Veteran's back pain was worsening. Therefore, the Veteran a new VA examination to determine the current severity of her lumbar strain disability is warranted. See Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400, 403 (1997). The matter is REMANDED for the following action: 1. Make efforts to obtain all outstanding medical records, to include private treatment records relevant to the Veteran's appeals in accordance with the duties set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(c). 2. After all outstanding records have been associated with the claims file, forward the Veteran's claims file to a qualified VA medical professional to obtain a new VA examination to address the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar strain disability. All the necessary testing must be undertaken. The entire claims file, to include a copy of this remand, must be made available to and be reviewed by the examiner. The most up-to-date Disability Benefits Questionnaire must be utilized to obtain the findings necessary for an appropriate rating. The examiner is also requested to clarify whether any symptoms exhibited during the examination can be attributed to a disorder other than the service-connected lumbar strain. Rationales for all opinions expressed must be provided by the examiner. A. C. MACKENZIE Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board D. Hetman 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.