CAVC Case 92-353: Back

CAVCReal U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) decision · May 27, 1994 · NEBEKER, Chief Judge

This is a decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims — the federal court that reviews Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions, one level above the Board. Court decisions can vacate, reverse, or affirm what the Board did.

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Outcome
Vacated
Decision Date
May 27, 1994
Judge
NEBEKER, Chief Judge
Service Era
Not specified

Conditions Claimed

BackRespiratoryEye

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Issues on Appeal

BackRespiratoryEye

Why It Was Decided This Way

However, we hold that the Board erred in finding that the appellant's claim was well grounded and therefore vacate the February 14, 1992, decision of the Board.

Regarding the appellant's evidence in support of his claim for service connection for bronchial asthma, the Board found that the appellant had not presented sufficient credible evidence.

The Board found that the appellant's service medical records had been destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).

Additionally, the Board found that the evidence in support of the appellant's claim was slim.

Finally, the Board noted that the appellant stated that he had been treated three times in service for bronchial asthma through sick calls.

However, the Board found no support for such treatment in the appellant's service medical records.

The Board found it contradictory that the appellant initially stated he had been treated for bronchial asthma from September 1948 to January 1949, but later claimed to have had bronchial asthma on or about March 8, 1949, one day before his discharge.

Based upon the time that had passed between the initial observation and time of testimony, the Board found it "extremely suspect that 4 people remember the exact same date that the appellant began receiving treatment for bronchial asthma almost 40 years ago, and remember with such specificity his condition immediately following service.

Authorities Cited

Ascherl v. BrownBudnik v. DerwinskiCartright v. DerwinskiClarkson v. BrownCompare Tirpak v. DerwinskiCox v. BrownCuevas v. PrincipiCulver v. DerwinskiDixon v. DerwinskiEdenfield v. BrownEspiritu v. DerwinskiFisher v. DerwinskiFluker v. BrownGarlejo v. DerwinskiGinnis v. BrownGrottveit v. BrownHorowitz v. BrownIn Grivois v. BrownJaroslawicz v. SeedmanMason v. United StatesMerritt v. BrownMohr v. DerwinskiMoray v. BrownMurphy v. DerwinskiRhodes v. BrownSee Espiritu v. DerwinskiSee Green v. BrownSee Person v. BrownSelley v. BrownSuttmann v. Brown

Regulations Cited (38 CFR / 38 USC)

38 CFR 3.303(a)38 CFR 3.303(a) (1993)38 USC 7101(d)38 USC 7104(b)38 USC 7261(b)

Denial Type

Credibility|Not New Material

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