Citation Nr: 21076424
Decision Date: 12/23/21	Archive Date: 12/23/21

DOCKET NO. 17-10 380
DATE: December 23, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for testicular injury residuals is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from September 1985 to May 1988.

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

The Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge at a Board hearing in September 2021.  The transcript is of record.

1. Entitlement to service connection for testicular injury residuals is remanded.

At his September 2021 Board hearing, the Veteran credibly testified to in-service injury to his right testicle shortly before discharge from active duty service, with ongoing residuals since. The Board notes that the Veteran has never been afforded an in-person VA examination in connection with this claim. On remand, a VA examination must be conducted (in-person), and an expert medical opinion as to the presence and etiology of current right testicular injury residuals obtained. 

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. After obtaining the necessary authorization, update the file with any VA or private treatment records relevant to the Veteran's claims. If any requested records are unavailable, the Veteran should be notified to that effect.

2. Then, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to explore the presence and etiology of any current residuals of injury to the right testicle. All indicated tests and studies should be conducted and all clinical findings reported in detail. The entire claims file should be made available to and be reviewed by the examiner in conjunction with this request.         

For each condition identified, the examiner should state whether it is at least as likely as not (i.e., at least a 50 percent probability or greater) that the condition began in service or is otherwise related to service, to include as a sequela of in-service testicular injury.

3. Review the examination report and all opinions expressed to ensure they are in compliance with this remand's directives and implement corrective procedures if required. Then, readjudicate the claim. 

 

 

GAYLE STROMMEN

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	Z. Sahraie, 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.