Citation Nr: 21026433 Decision Date: 05/03/21 Archive Date: 05/03/21 DOCKET NO. 17-41 036 DATE: May 3, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a gynecological disorder, to include menorrhagia and fibroids, is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for hysterectomy, claimed as secondary to fibroids is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from August 1989 to July 1992. The Veteran and her husband testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in August 2020. A transcript of the hearing is associated with the claims file. 1. Entitlement to service connection for a gynecological disorder, to include menorrhagia and fibroids, is remanded. 2. Entitlement to service connection for hysterectomy, claimed as secondary to fibroids is remanded. A remand is needed to obtain a VA examination and opinion that addresses the likelihood that the Veteran has a current gynecological disorder that is related to her period of active military service. In this regard, the Veteran's service treatment records (STRs) reflects that she sought treatment for heavy, prolonged bleeding which was diagnosed as amenorrhea following a pregnancy in July 1991 and hypermenorrhea in March 1992. See STRs dated July 1991 and March 1992. During the August 2020 hearing, the Veteran testified that she was also diagnosed with fibroids during service but was told not to worry about them because they were small. While an in-service diagnosis of fibroids is not reflected in the STRs, the Veteran testified that she continued to experience heavy bleeding after service, but she handled the problem on her own until she sought treatment from VA. The Board finds that the lay evidence of record, including the Veteran's testimony, is considered competent and credible lay evidence of continued heavy, prolonged bleeding after service. The post-service medical evidence shows that, beginning in 2006, the Veteran sought treatment from VA for prolonged periods of bleeding. Indeed, in June 2006, clinicians noted the Veteran's long-standing history of heavy, prolonged menses and was diagnosed with oligomenorrhea with menorrhagia. Subsequent records reflect that uterine fibroids were discovered on ultrasound in July 2009 and that the Veteran underwent a total hysterectomy in December 2014. See VA treatment records dated July 2009 and January 2015. As there is evidence of a current gynecological disability, in-service complaints, and credible lay and medical evidence indicating that the current disability may be related to the in-service complaints, the Board finds the evidence of record is sufficient to trigger VA's duty to assist the Veteran by affording her a VA examination and opinion. See McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006). The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Schedule the Veteran a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of her claimed gynecological disorder. The Veteran's claims file must be made available to the examiner. Following review of the claims file and examination of the Veteran, the examiner must provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the post-service diagnoses of menorrhagia and fibroids and resulting hysterectomy were incurred during service or are otherwise related to the Veteran's active duty service, to include the complaints of prolonged bleeding and diagnosis of amenorrhea and hypermenorrhea during service. The examiner is advised that the Veteran is competent to report symptoms, treatment, and injuries, and that her reports must be considered in formulating the requested opinion. However, if there is a medical reason to doubt its veracity, the examiner should explain why the Veteran's statements or recollection are inconsistent with the evidence in this case, medical principles relating to the onset and progress of the disease, the specific findings in the record, and/or your professional judgment. A clear rationale for all opinions must be provided and a discussion of the facts and medical principles involved would be of considerable assistance to the Board. 2. After undertaking any additional development deemed appropriate and giving the Veteran full opportunity to supplement the record, adjudicate the Veteran's pending claim in light of any additional evidence added to the record. If any benefit sought on appeal remains denied, the Veteran and her representative should be furnished with a Supplemental Statement of the Case and be afforded the applicable opportunity to respond before the record is returned to the Board for further review. M. Donohue Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board A. Turnipseed, 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.