Akles v. Derwinski

FARLEY, Associate Judge:

This appeal involves two statutory duties imposed upon the Secretary of Veterans Affairs: the duty to “assist ... a claimant in developing the facts pertinent to the claim” (38 U.S.C. § 3007(a)) and the duty to “distribute full information to eligible veterans ... regarding all benefits and services to which they may be entitled” (38 U.S.C. § 241(2)). The appellant contracted mumps while in service which resulted in the atrophy of the left testicle. His reopened claim for an increase in service-connected benefits to a compensable rating for testicular atrophy was…