Citation Nr: 21005515
Decision Date: 02/01/21	Archive Date: 02/01/21

DOCKET NO. 16-57 917
DATE: February 1, 2021

REMANDED

Service connection for urinary disability is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served active duty from November 1951 to February 1952.

Service connection for urinary disability

Although the Board regrets the delay, additional development must be completed to ensure the Veteran is afforded proper consideration. 

The Veteran contends entitlement to service connection for uncontrolled urinary function. Specifically, he contends he began wetting the bed after being kneed in the groin during service. See November 2014 statement and November 2016 VA Form 9.

Service treatment records (STR) show a February 1952 psychiatric referral noted enuresis (bedwetting). The clinician noted chronic attendance at sick bay with complaints of blackouts, fainting spells, and bedwetting. The clinician noted on a special enuretic regime, he did not wet the bed in five nights. 

The RO requested a medical opinion for a pre-existing disability. As the Veteran’s entrance examination is silent for uncontrolled urinary function and the Veteran contends his uncontrolled urinary function began during service, the October 2015 VA examiner provided a medical opinion under the wrong legal standard.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

Obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding urinary disability. An in-person examination is not required unless deemed necessary by the clinician. The clinician must answer:

For each urinary disability identified, is it at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) the disability began during service or is related to service?

The clinician should consider STR noting bedwetting and the Veteran’s contention that he began bedwetting after being kneed in the groin during service. By this remand, the Board makes no determination, express or implied, concerning the credibility of any lay statements on file.

 

 

KELLI A. KORDICH

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	T. Winkler, Associate 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.