Citation Nr: 22001007 Decision Date: 01/07/22 Archive Date: 01/07/22 DOCKET NO. 18-23 219 DATE: January 7, 2022 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a low back condition is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran was inducted into the United States Army in November 1966 and medically discharged in December 1966. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a January 2015 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); this case is in VA's legacy appeals system. In November 2021, the Veteran testified at a Board hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge; a transcript of that hearing is of record. Entitlement to service connection for a low back condition The Veteran indicated during his November 2021 Board hearing that he was hospitalized during service at the Womack Army Hospital. A remand is required to allow VA to request these potentially relevant records. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain records of any inpatient treatment at Womack Army Hospital in 1966. Document all requests for information as well as all responses in the claims file. 2. Once the above development is completed, obtain an opinion from an appropriate medical professional regarding the Veteran's claimed low back condition. The examiner must review the claims file. The examiner should provide answers to the following: Did the Veteran's lumbar spine spondylosis and related spondylolisthesis, which existed prior to service, at least as likely as not increase in severity during service? If so, was the increase in severity clearly and unmistakably (undebatable) due to the natural progress of the disease? The examiner should discuss the Veteran's testimony that he had no problems with his back during service until someone stepped directly on his lower back causing severe pain and eventually hospitalization. Provide a rationale to support the opinions. In providing the requested opinion, consider the Veteran's description of his/her in-service injury and symptoms as well as his post-service symptoms. If there is any medical reason to accept or reject the proposition that the Veteran's reported injury and symptoms in service and thereafter represented aggravation of his preexisting disability, this should be noted. Stated another way, do the Veteran's reports about his in-service injury and symptoms align with how the currently diagnosed disability is known to develop or are the Veteran's reports generally inconsistent with medical knowledge or implausible? Only if the above opinions cannot be provided based on the evidence of record, provide the Veteran with an appropriate in-person examination. 3. After the above development, and any additionally indicated development, has been completed, readjudicate the issue on appeal. If any benefit sought is not granted to the Veteran's satisfaction, send the Veteran and his representative a Supplemental Statement of the Case and provide an opportunity to respond. If necessary, return the case to the Board for further appellate review. L. M. BARNARD Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board Zimmerman, Micah 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.