Citation Nr: 25008964 Decision Date: 07/09/25 Archive Date: 07/09/25 DOCKET NO. 20-19 502 DATE: July 9, 2025 ORDER Entitlement to service connection for scrotal cellulitis is granted. FINDING OF FACT The Veteran's scrotal cellulitis occurred in the line of duty during a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA). CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for entitlement to service connection for scrotal cellulitis have been met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131, 5107; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.159, 3.303. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran honorably served in the United States Army National Guard from April 2004 through April 2010, with periods of active duty, to include from February 2006 to July 2006. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal of a February 2018 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). Entitlement to service connection for scrotal cellulitis. Service connection may be granted for a disability resulting from disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military, naval, or air service. 38 U.S.C. § 1110; 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(a). Service connection may be granted for any disease diagnosed after discharge, when all the evidence, including that pertinent to service, establishes that the disease was incurred in service. 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(d). As a general matter, service connection for a disability requires evidence of: (1) the existence of a current disability; (2) the existence of the disease or injury in service, and; (3) a relationship or nexus between the current disability and any injury or disease during service. Shedden v. Principi, 381 F.3d 1163 (Fed. Cir. 2004). The term "active military, naval, or air service" includes active duty, any period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) during which the individual concerned was disabled or died from a disease or injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty, and any period of inactive duty training (INACDUTRA) during which the individual concerned was disabled or died from an injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty. 38 U.S.C. § 101 (21), (24). Diseases or injuries incurred or aggravated while performing ACDUTRA are eligible for service connection. 38 U.S.C. §§ 101 (24), 106, 1110, 1131. The Veteran asserts that his right scrotum became inflamed during a period of ACDUTRA while he was in service; he was hospitalized with scrotal cellulitis. This left him with a residual ailment as shown by a January 2019 sonogram. He asserts that he suffers from chronic jock rash and had to continuously use Clotrimazole cream ever since service. See February 2019 Medical Treatment Record - Government Facility. Service treatment records show that the Veteran complained of jock itch during a primary care clinic visit on June 14, 2006. The Board notes that the Veteran was on ACDUTRA when this occurred. In December 2017, the Veteran submitted a hospital medical record that showed he was admitted to the hospital on July 24, 2009, and discharged on July 29, 2009, for scrotal cellulitis. The Veteran was prescribed medication for his scrotal cellulitis. See December 2017 Medical Treatment Record - Non - Government Facility. Moreover, an August 2009 Statement of Medical Examination and Duty Status identified that the Veteran was admitted to the hospital from July 24, 2009, to July 29, 2009, for scrotal cellulitis. A whitehead started to form on the rear part of his scrotum. Within two days, it became bigger and very painful. The Veteran was referred to a hospital by a physician assistant after medication proved ineffective. He was diagnosed at the hospital with scrotal cellulitis. Additionally, it is noted that the condition was considered to have been incurred in the line of duty but during a period of INACDUTRA. It was further noted that the incident began on July 22, 2009. In April 2020, the Veteran submitted a November 2009 line of duty investigation memorandum from the Army which stated that the Veteran's diagnosis of cellulitis and abscess of other specified sites (groin) had been determined to be in the line of duty. Here, the issue is whether the Veteran was on ACDUTRA during the time of the occurrence of scrotal cellulitis. Although the August 2009 Statement of Medical Examination and Duty Status reflects that the Veteran was on INACDUTRA during his hospitalization, the Veteran's military personnel records clearly show that he was ordered for ACDUTRA from July 21, 2009, to July 26, 2009, which means that the Veteran's diagnosis of scrotal cellulitis occurred during a period of ACDUTRA. See October 2018 Military Personnel Record. Thus, the Board considers the Veteran to have been assigned to ACDUTRA during the in-service occurrence of his scrotal cellulitis. In January 2018, the Veteran was afforded a VA examination for male reproductive system conditions. The Veteran was diagnosed with scrotal cellulitis with a diagnosis date of 2009. It was noted that the Veteran denied any recurrence of scrotal cellulitis afterwards. Upon examination, there was no evidence present of scrotal cellulitis, no evidence of scrotal pain, and no evidence of scrotal redness. However, the VA examiner opined that the Veteran's scrotal cellulitis was at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by the Veteran's military service. In summary, the examiner explained that there was evidence (line of duty) on July 24, 2009, of hospitalization for a diagnosis of scrotal cellulitis with antibiotic treatment. In February 2019, the Veteran submitted a January 2019 scrotal sonogram report. The sonogram report noted that the Veteran had mild heterogeneous echogenicity and increased vascularity of the right epididymis which might suggest acute epididymitis. Also, in the submission was a February 2019 VA treatment record that showed that the Veteran was prescribed a topical cream, Clotrimazole, due to a fungal infection. Based on the foregoing, the Board finds that service connection for scrotal cellulitis is warranted. Here, the Board finds the Veteran's complaints of having chronic jock rash and having to continuously use Clotrimazole cream ever since service due to his in-service scrotal cellulitis to be competent and credible. A lay person is competent to report on that of which he or she has personal knowledge. See Layno v. Brown, 6 Vet. App. 465, 470 (1994). The Veteran's statements are corroborated by the February 2019 VA medical treatment record that showed that the Veteran was prescribed Clotrimazole due to a fungal infection. Moreover, of record is a line of duty determination that shows that the Veteran's scrotal cellulitis occurred in the line of duty. Also, although the Veteran did not currently have problems at the time of the January 2018 VA examination, the examiner provided a positive medical opinion relating the Veteran's scrotal cellulitis to his military service. The Board finds this medical opinion to be probative in value because the conclusion is supported by sufficient rationale. See Nieves-Rodriguez v. Peake, 22 Vet. App. 295, 304 (2008) (holding that a medical opinion obtains probative weight from the "factually accurate, fully articulated, sound reasoning for the conclusion"). As such, the persuasive weight of the evidence weighs in favor of a grant for service connection. (Continued on the next page) ? Therefore, the Board finds that entitlement to service connection for scrotal cellulitis is granted. H.M. WALKER Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board J. Crawford, 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.