Citation Nr: 18139856
Decision Date: 10/01/18	Archive Date: 10/01/18

DOCKET NO. 16-26 424
DATE:	October 1, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD), to include as due to exposure to herbicides, is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from September 1964 to July 1974.
1. Entitlement to service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD), to include as due to exposure to herbicides is remanded.
The Veteran claims that he was exposed to herbicides during a tour of active duty service in Korea from 1965 to 1966.  See, e.g., VA Form 21-4138, Statement in Support of Claim received August 31, 2011.  A Defense Personnel Records Information Retrieval System (DPRIS) response reflects that the Veteran’s unit operated in an area in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), but not between April 1, 1968 and August 31, 1971, which is the time period set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 3.307(a)(6)(iv).  See DPRIS response received April 21, 2012.  However, the Veteran may be entitled to service connection for his claimed IHD on a direct basis if the evidence shows that it was caused by his exposure to herbicides during active duty even if outside of that time period.  Upon review of the evidence of record, the Board finds that an examination opinion addressing whether the Veteran’s IHD is at least as likely as not the result of his exposure to herbicides while serving in the Korean DMZ in 1965 and 1966 would be helpful.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any ischemic heart disease.  The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, including the Veteran’s reported exposure to herbicide agents while serving in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) from 1965 to 1966.  The examiner must review the Veteran’s entire claims file in conjunction with the examination, and all opinions must be supported by a detailed rationale.  
 
A. C. MACKENZIE
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	C. Banks, Associate Counsel