service and his hair grew back. The veteran stated that after he was married in
1968, he was able to have satisfactory sexual relations with his wife about 2 to
3 times a week only if he took certain pitls. He stated that his wife had been
examined by a physician and their childless state ““may be because of her.” He
gave a history of a skin disorder in his groin which developed in 1969 and
CASE NO. 12
Type of Injury: Sexual Disabitity (sterility and/or impotence) and Skin
Condition.
BVA's Decision: Denial Affirmed.
Date of Decision: 1971.
Appellant's Allegation: That his sexual disability and the peeling of the skin of
his hands was due to service exposure to radioactive material. |
Facts: The veteran served from February 1965 to January 1967. In May 1965
it was recorded that he was medically qualified for duties involving nuclear
weapons systems, at Sandia Base, New Mexico.
Veteran contended that during a session of the “Army Nuclear Weapons
Basic Maintenance Specialist Course,” he used his bare hands to pick up a piece
of radioactive material; that as a result, the skin peeled off his hands after a few
days and his hair started to thin; that after he met his future wife, he
discovered his sexual disability which he variously referred to as impotence.
The evidence of record showed that in June 1965, he was seen for a peeling
of the skin of his hands. He was referred to dermatology clinic where in July
1965, it was noted that he had peeling of the skin on the palms of the hands
and the paimar surfaces of the fingers for about a month. It was noted that he
was in nuclear weapons school for about six weeks. The impression was
dyshidrosis, and medication was prescribed. No further skin manifestations
were reported during the balance of his term of service. The separation
examination showed no pertinent disease or abnormalities. The service records
contain no reference to exposure to or contact with radioactive material.
Medical Evidence: \n July 1970, a medical doctor stated, in pertinent part, that
he treated the veteran in July 1968 for complaints of impotency. Medication
was prescribed and on a visit in September 1968, improvement was noted. His
pertinent diagnoses were impotency, helped with medication, possibly all
psychological, and tinea cruris, treated and cured.
On special urology examination, the veteran gave a history of having put his
hand on radioactive material for a few seconds on one occasion. Genitalia
appeared normal, and prostate was normal in size and consistency. The
examiner questioned whether the veteran had sufficient exposure to radiation
to account for any of his symptoms. On special dermatology examination he
related incidents relative to an eruption on his hands and in his groin, loss of
hair, and impotency, all of which he attributed to nuclear radiation exposure at
Sandia Base in 1965. The eruption on his hands cleared up after treatment in
48
cleared up after a few months and has not bothered him since the spring of
1969. Physical examination of the skin revealed normal skin on his hands.
There was no evidence of telangiectasia, atrophy, pigmentary changes, etc.,
which would be expected following excessive radiation exposure. His scalp hair
was normal in density and distribution and well rooted. No eruption was
evident in the genito-anal area. There was no evidence of any active eruption
and no residuals of excessive irradiation exposure. Diagnosis was: Allegation of
radiation damage to skin and sex organs: no evidence noted.
Findings of the BVA and Basis for Decision: \n denying service connection for
the reason that the veteran’s sterility, impotency or skin condition was not
incurred in or aggravated by active service the Board found:
1. Service medical records reveal an episode of dyshidrosis during
service, which was acute and transitory, left no residuals, and was not
manifest on examination prior to separation in December 1966, or on
official examination in 1970.
2. Service medical records reveal no evidence of exposure to nuclear
radiation during service.
3. The evidence of record does not establish that the veteran is
suffering from sterility or impotency due to nuclear radiation in service.
In support ofits decision the Board pointed out:
Entitlement to service connection implies not only that there was
injury or disease manifested in service, but also that the injury or disease
resulted in residual disability.
In this case, the evidence of record showsa service episode of peeling
of the skin of the hands and the examiner's impression was dyshidrosis.
The disorder cleared immediately and no further manifestations were
reported for the balance of his service or at examination for separation
in December {966 or onVeterans Administration examination in 1970.
He had an episode of tinea,cruris, treated and cured by his physician,
subsequent to service, No evidence of exposure to radiation was reported
in the service records. Medical evidence since service does not establish
that the veteran has a sexual! disability due to nuclear radiation.