Citation Nr: 19149596
Decision Date: 06/25/19	Archive Date: 06/25/19

DOCKET NO. 18-36 165
DATE:	June 25, 2019

REMANDED

Entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for chronic epididymo-orchitis is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Air Force from September 1966 to September 1976.  

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a September 2016 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).  

1. Entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for chronic epididymo-orchitis is remanded.

In their May 2019 Brief, the Veteran’s representative argues that the Veteran’s chronic epididymo-orchitis is manifested by pain on palpation, and that the resulting symptomatology is more severe than that reflected by the most recent examination.  In reviewing these contentions, the Board finds the August 2016 VA examination of the male reproductive system to be inadequate in terms of addressing the Veteran’s noted pain on palpation due to his chronic epididymo-orchitis.  

Accordingly, an attempt should be made to obtain any available updated treatment records, followed by scheduling a new VA examination to determine the severity of this condition.

The matter is REMANDED for the following action:

1. Ask the Veteran to provide the names and addresses of all medical care providers who have treated him for his chronic epididymo-orchitis since October 2017.  After securing any necessary releases, request any relevant records identified.  In addition, obtain updated VA treatment records.  If any requested records are unavailable, the Veteran should be notified of such. 

2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate examiner to determine the current severity of his service-connected chronic epididymo-orchitis.  The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms necessary for evaluating the Veteran’s disability under the rating criteria.  

 

Evan M. Deichert

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	W. Yates, Counsel