Citation Nr: 18139975 Decision Date: 10/02/18 Archive Date: 10/01/18 DOCKET NO. 16-27 890 DATE: October 2, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for residuals of a urethra tumor to include as due to undiagnosed illness is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from November 1988 to March 1989, May 1990 to May 1993, and August 1997 to June 1999. This case comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (the Board) on appeal from an October 2012 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). Service connection for residuals of urethra tumor is remanded. The Veteran contends that he has residuals of a urethra tumor that is related to his service, to include service in Southwest Asia when he was infected by either a parasite or sand fly. See, e.g., the Veteran’s June 2016 substantive appeal. He alternatively contends that residuals of his urethra rumor are due to an undiagnosed illness during his service in Southwest Asia. Although the Board notes that the Veteran’s service treatment records are absent treatment for a urethra tumor, the Board finds the Veteran credible to report being bitten by a sand fly or being exposed to parasites during his service in Southwest Asia. Notably, his service personnel records verify his service in Southwest Asia. The Board further notes that a July 1995 VA treatment record documents diagnosis of urethral papilloma. Further, a VA treatment record dated January 2002 notes diagnosis of urethritis. The Veteran has not been provided a VA Gulf War examination for his claim on appeal. As the Veteran has presented credible statements as to his service in Southwest Asia and that he was exposed to parasites and sand flies, the Board finds that a VA examination is warranted on remand in order to ascertain the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s urethra symptomatology and whether he currently has objective indications of a chronic urethra disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness, as established by history, physical examination, and laboratory tests, that has either (1) existed for 6 months or more, or (2) exhibited intermittent episodes of improvement and worsening over a 6-month period. Also, an examination is necessary to determine if this urethra disorder is the same as that described by the Veteran as onset during service or whether the current disorder was caused by any aspect of service including exposure to parasites or sand flies in the Persian Gulf. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: 1. The Veteran should be afforded an appropriate VA examination by an appropriate medical profession in order to determine the current nature and etiology of his claimed residuals of urethra tumor. The claims file, to include a copy of this Remand, must be made available to and be reviewed by the examiner. Any indicated evaluations, studies, and tests should be conducted. (A) The examiner should note and detail all reported urethra symptoms. (B) The examiner should specifically state whether the Veteran’s urethra symptoms are attributed to a known clinical diagnosis. (C) If any symptoms of a urethra condition have not been determined to be associated with a known clinical diagnosis, the examiner should indicate whether the Veteran has objective indications of a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness, as established by history, physical examination, and laboratory tests, that has either (1) existed for 6 months or more, or (2) exhibited intermittent episodes of improvement and worsening over a 6-month period. (D) For each diagnosed disorder, the examiner should render an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (i.e., there is a 50 percent or greater probability) that such disorder is related to the Veteran’s service, to include the Veteran’s credible report of exposure to parasites and sand flies during service in Southwest Asia. A rationale for any opinion offered should be provided. BISWAJIT CHATTERJEE Acting Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD Arif Syed, Counsel