Citation Nr: 18146294
Decision Date: 10/31/18	Archive Date: 10/31/18

DOCKET NO. 14-31 671
DATE:	October 31, 2018
ORDER
Entitlement for service connection due to residuals of pregnancy and miscarriage is denied.
FINDING OF FACT
1. The Veteran had an in-service pregnancy in 1976 that resulted in a miscarriage in July 1976.
2. The probative medical evidence of record does not reveal that the Veteran has any current diagnosed disability manifested by her in-service pregnancy and miscarriage.
CONCLUSION OF LAW
The criteria for entitlement to service connection for residuals of pregnancy and miscarriage have not been met.  38 U.S.C. §§ 1131 (2012), 38 C.F.R. 3.303 (2017).
REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION
The Veteran served on active duty from January 1976 through January 1979.
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a February 2012 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).
In August 2018, the Veteran’s representative submitted argument requesting that wording in the February 2012 rating decision, which granted the Veteran service connection for PTSD, be reworded to read “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (also claimed as MST, Major Depressive Disorder, pregnancy and miscarriage).”  The Veteran’s representative further requested that the Board consider changing the rating from 50 percent to 70 percent.  Beginning March 2015, VA updated regulations requiring that claims be filed using standardized forms.  Therefore, should the Veteran’s wish to file a claim for an increased rating, she is encouraged to complete a VA Form 21-526 or VA Form 21-526EZ and submit it directly to the RO.  See 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.155, 19.9(b) 
Service Connection
Generally, service connection requires evidence of (1) a current disability, (2) in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury, and (3) a nexus, or link, between the current disability and the in-service disease or injury.  38 C.F.R. § 3.303(a) (2017).
The Veteran contends that she is entitled to service connection for residuals of pregnancy and miscarriage due to resulting crying spells, frequent reliving of the event and thoughts of the child.  For the reasons discussed below, the Board finds that the Veteran does not have a separate disability for VA compensation purposes due to her miscarriage in service.  
The Veteran’s service treatment record confirms that the Veteran had a pregnancy and miscarriage in July 1976.  However, post-service treatment notes do not record a present disability manifesting from this in-service event. 
As addressed above, the Board takes notice that the Veteran is service-connected for PTSD (also claimed as MST and depression) based on the in-service assault, pregnancy, and miscarriage.  The symptomology noted by the Veteran as residuals to pregnancy and miscarriage are akin to psychological impairments, such as crying spells or intrusive thoughts, envisioned in the Veteran’s PTSD and depression diagnoses.  Treatment records do not show a distinct diagnosis resulting from the Veteran’s in-service pregnancy and miscarriage as those symptoms have already been considered in conjunction with her rating for PTSD with depression. 
There is no evidence of treatment for residuals of the pregnancy and miscarriage.  In fact, the Veteran has stated she has no physical residuals.  Here, the totality of the competent evidence does not reflect that the Veteran has or has had a diagnosis of any current disability, related to in-service pregnancy and miscarriage, during the relevant period on appeal.  Absent the required diagnosis of a current disability, a claim for service connection fails.  Brammer v. Derwinski, 3 Vet. App. 223, 225 (1992).
For the reasons provided above, the preponderance of evidence is against the Veteran’s claim for service connection for residuals of pregnancy and miscarriage. 
 
H.M. WALKER
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	N.B. Mmeje, Associate Counsel