Citation Nr: 18150973
Decision Date: 11/16/18	Archive Date: 11/16/18

DOCKET NO. 16-36 176
DATE:	November 16, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for bilateral foot disability, including stinging, to include as due to herbicide-agent exposure, is remanded.
Entitlement to service connection for respiratory disability, including cancer and chronic cough, to include as due to herbicide-agent exposure, is remanded.
Entitlement to service connection for impotence, to include as due to herbicide-agent exposure, is remanded.
Entitlement to service connection for prostate disability, including enlarged prostate, to include as due to herbicide-agent exposure, is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Army from January 1971 to February 1972.  These matters come before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an August 2014 rating decision.
1. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral foot disability, including stinging, to include as due to herbicide-agent exposure, is remanded.
In his July 2016 VA Form 9, the Veteran listed private physicians from whom he received treatment for his feet and prostate disabilities.  The Veteran should be given an opportunity to provide these records or request that VA obtain them.
In addition, the Board cannot make a fully informed decision on the issue of bilateral foot disability, including stinging, because no VA examiner has opined whether the bilateral foot disability is related to the Veteran’s presumed in-service exposure to herbicide agents while serving in the Republic of Vietnam.
2. Entitlement to service connection for respiratory disability, including cancer and chronic cough, to include as due to herbicide-agent exposure, is remanded.
The Board cannot make a fully informed decision on the issue of respiratory disability, including cancer and chronic cough, because no VA examiner has opined whether the respiratory disability is related to the Veteran’s presumed in-service exposure to herbicide agents while serving in Vietnam.
3. Entitlement to service connection for impotence, to include as due to herbicide-agent exposure, is remanded.
The Board cannot make a fully informed decision on the issue of impotence because no VA examiner has opined whether the disability is related to the Veteran’s presumed in-service exposure to herbicide agents while serving in Vietnam.
4. Entitlement to service connection for prostate disability, including enlarged prostate, to include as due to herbicide-agent exposure, is remanded.
The Board cannot make a fully informed decision on the issue of prostate disability, including enlarged prostate, because no VA examiner has opined whether the disability is related to the Veteran’s presumed in-service exposure to herbicide agents while serving in Vietnam.
The matters are REMANDED for the following action:
1. Ask the Veteran to complete a VA Form 21-4142 for any appropriate physicians or facilities, including Dr. David Elkins, Dr. Eric Smith, and Dr. Michael Hamilton.  Make two requests for the authorized records from the physicians or facilities unless it is clear after the first request that a second request would be futile.
2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any bilateral foot disability.  The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, including in-service herbicide-agent exposure.
3. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any respiratory disability.  The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, including in-service herbicide-agent exposure.
4. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any impotence.  The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, including in-service herbicide-agent exposure.
5. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any prostate disability.  The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-
 
service injury, event, or disease, including in-service herbicide-agent exposure.
 
M. H. HAWLEY
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	W. Ripplinger, Associate Counsel