Citation Nr: 21064450
Decision Date: 10/20/21	Archive Date: 10/20/21

DOCKET NO. 18-11 758
DATE: October 20, 2021

ORDER

Service connection for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the left leg is granted. 

Service connection for deep vein thrombosis of the right leg is granted.

FINDING OF FACT

Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, DVT of the right and left lower extremities were initially manifested and treated in service and have required prescription medication since that time.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

1. The criteria for a grant of service connection for DVT of the right leg have been met.  38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 5107; 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(d).

2. The criteria for a grant of service connection for DVT of the left leg have been met.  38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 5107; 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(d).

REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSIONS

The Veteran served on active duty from June 2005 to September 2014. 

These matters come before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) from a November 2017 Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) decision.  The Veteran presented sworn testimony in support of his appeal during an October 2021 hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran seeks service connection for DVT of both legs.  He maintains that he received treatment for DVTs during military service and that he has been prescribed medication since that time in order to prevent their recurrence. 

The Board will resolve reasonable doubt and award service connection for DVTs of the bilateral lower extremities.  In reaching this conclusion, the Veteran had three (3) documented DVTs in service, was initially treated with the medications, Lovenox and Warfarin, for six (6) months, and had his last DVT in approximately 2013.  He was subsequently placed on the medication, Xarelto, for prophylactic treatment due to his history of DVTs.  While the Veteran has not had a DVT since 2013, the evidence clearly shows that since his in-service DVTs, he has been consistently and continuously prescribed prophylactic treatment in order to prevent them from recurring. 

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Thus, the evidence shows that the Veteran's DVTs of the bilateral lower extremities  began during service and have been continuously controlled with prophylactic treatment in order to prevent their recurrence since discharge.  38 C.F.R. § 3.303 (d).  Thus, the Board finds that a grant of service connection for DVT of the right and left lower extremities is warranted.  Id.  

Accordingly, the claims for service connection for DVT of the lower extremities are granted.

 

 

MATTHEW W. BLACKWELDER

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	Carole Kammel, Counsel

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.