Citation Nr: 25004166 Decision Date: 03/27/25 Archive Date: 03/27/25 DOCKET NO. 20-15 412 DATE: March 27, 2025 REMANDED Service connection for bilateral lower extremity (BLE) chronic venous syndrome (CVS). REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from December 1974 to January 1975; she has been 100 percent disabled since July 2019 plus in receipt of special monthly compensation (SMC). Following the Board's November 2023 decision denying service connection, the Veteran appealed to the Veterans Claims Court. In October 2024, the Court Clerk granted a Joint Motion for Remand (JMR). Pursuant to the JMR, a remand is required to obtain another medical opinion. The matter is REMANDED for the following actions: 1. Obtain relevant VA clinical records not already associated with the claims file. 2. Obtain any relevant private treatment records not already associated with the claims file, and if necessary obtain authorizations from the Veteran for any medical providers, specifically for: " Any medical records from when the Veteran obtained treatment immediately following separation from service for the injuries sustained to the legs as a result of the in-service sexual assault. " Any records from when the Veteran first sought treatment for the bilateral leg disorder to include treatment for leg ulcerations. 3. Direct the claims file to a clinician for an addendum medical opinion to address the Veteran's chronic venous syndrome. Applying general medical principles, the clinician's experience, and the Veteran's lay statements, the clinician is asked to address the following: " What is the medical probability (that is, the likelihood is at least approximately balanced, or nearly equal, or higher) that the lower extremity chronic venous syndrome was incurred in service. The clinician is asked to specifically consider the following: " The Veteran's lay statements regarding a sexual assault causing bilateral leg injuries that resulted in the chronic venous syndrome. " The November 2017 and August 2018 private physician's nexus opinions that concluded the chronic venous syndrome resulted from trauma to the legs that occurred during a sexual assault in December 1974. " If would be helpful to the Board if the clinician would explain how trauma could affect the lymphatic and venous systems to include causing inflammation or other damage (i.e., edema, ulceration) in the Veteran's legs and the likelihood of delayed manifestation of symptoms. A complete and thorough rationale for the opinion must be provided. The VA clinician's credentials/qualifications or curriculum vitae (CV) must be included with or attached to the medical opinion. 4. An examination need not be scheduled unless the clinician cannot answer the questions presented without one. L. HOWELL Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board B. J. Ferguson, 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.