Citation Nr: 18155838 Decision Date: 12/06/18 Archive Date: 12/06/18 DOCKET NO. 15-28 184 DATE: December 6, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a skin condition is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from June 1965 to June 1969. This case is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a July 2016 rating decision by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office. In November 2018, the Veteran was scheduled for a videoconference hearing at the Detroit, Michigan RO. However, he did not appear for the hearing and did not request another hearing. The Board finds that more development is necessary prior to final adjudication of the appeal. The Veteran is seeking entitlement to service connection for a skin condition. He contends that he was exposed to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam, and has developed a skin condition shortly after his return. July 2015 VA Form 9. The Veteran stated that marks appeared on his skin, his hands looked aged, and the skin of his legs and feet were scaly and flaky. Id. He also provided that his skin turns blotchy and peels off after a sun exposure. Id. The Veteran is competent to report such observable symptoms of his skin condition. Layno v. Brown, 6 Vet. App. 465 (1994). In December 2014, a private doctor G.A. provided a positive nexus opinion as to the Veteran’s skin condition and his exposure to Agent Orange during his service. Dr. G.A. stated that the Veteran suffers from dry, cracked skin on his feet, legs, hands, and arms, and opined that it is more likely than not that the Veteran’s condition is related to his Agent Orange exposure. However, Dr. A.B. did not provide a sufficient rational for his opinion. His only explanation was that he has only seen three cases that were similar to the Veteran’s condition, and all of those involved veterans who had served in Vietnam. The Board notes that the Veteran was afforded a VA examination on his scars in July 2014, but no examination was conducted for his skin condition. In light of the Veteran’s competent and credible statements regarding his skin condition and the Dr. G.A.’s private medical opinion suggesting a relation between the Veteran’s skin condition and his active service, the Board finds that a VA examination is warranted to determine the nature and etiology of his skin condition. See McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006). Accordingly, the matter is REMANDED for the following action: 1. The Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) should obtain any outstanding VA treatment records since they were last uploaded to the claims file, and contact the Veteran and her representative to request their assistance in identifying any outstanding private treatment records relevant to the Veteran’s claimed skin condition. All records/responses received must be associated with the electronic claims file. 2. Then, the AOJ should schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate medical examiner to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s skin condition. The examiner should review the Veteran’s claims file and a copy of this REMAND order in conjunction with the examination. The examiner must opine whether the Veteran current skin condition is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability) related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, to include a herbicide exposure. The examiner must provide a complete written rationale for any opinion offered. 3. After completing the above actions and any other necessary development, the claim must be readjudicated. If the claim remains denied, a Supplemental Statement of the Case must be provided to the Veteran and his representative. After the Veteran and his representative have had an adequate opportunity to respond, the appeal must be returned to the Board for appellate review. MICHAEL LANE Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD J. E. Kim, Associate Counsel