The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and thoracolumbar myofascial syndrome as secondary to service-connected right knee, left knee, and/or left hip, and a right ankle disability, to include pain or other symptoms productive of impairment of earning capacity, due to inadequate VA examinations.

The deciding factor: The December 2021 VA examination for the lumbosacral strain was found inadequate as it did not address the appropriate etiological question at issue. The November 2021 VA examination for the right ankle disability dismissed subjective reports of symptoms without adequate explanation or rationale, and there is a theory of secondary service connection based on altered biomechanics.

Claimed conditions

lumbosacral strain and thoracolumbar myofascial syndrome, right ankle disability, to include pain or other symptoms productive of impairment of earning capacity

How they argued it

Secondary to another service-connected condition

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

February 6, 2025

Citation

A25011002

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