Citation Nr: 18157685 Decision Date: 12/14/18 Archive Date: 12/13/18 DOCKET NO. 16-55 596 DATE: December 14, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for an eye condition is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for chronic liver disease is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for neurological conditions, to include encephalopathy is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for Bell's palsy is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for polyneuropathy of the right upper extremity is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from October 1974 through October 1978. The Veteran presented sworn testimony before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge during a February 2017 Board hearing. A transcript has been associated with the claims file. 1. Entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded. 2. Entitlement to service connection for an eye condition is remanded. The Veteran claimed entitlement to service connection for diabetes and an eye condition due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The July 2013 VA medical opinion did not address whether the Veteran’s diabetes or eye condition was etiologically related to his active duty service, to include exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. 3. Entitlement to service connection for chronic liver disease is remanded. 4. Entitlement to service connection for neurological conditions, to include encephalopathy is remanded. 5. Entitlement to service connection for Bell's palsy is remanded. 6. Entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is remanded. 7. Entitlement to service connection for polyneuropathy of the right upper extremity is remanded. 8. Entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is remanded. 9. Entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is remanded. The Veteran seeks entitlement to service connection for chronic liver disease, neurological conditions to include encephalopathy, Bell’s palsy, polyneuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The RO obtained a VA medical opinion in July 2013 to determine if any of his claimed disabilities were etiologically related to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The examiner opined that, following a review of the medical literature and calculation of exposure based on the Veteran’s five-month duration of exposure, there was no medical basis for any of his complaints to be etiologically related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Although the Veteran’s personnel file notes he was stationed at Camp Lejeune from November 1975 through April 1976, there is evidence he was stationed at Camp Lejeune much longer. However, this record appears to be incomplete. The Veteran’s service treatment records indicate he was stationed at Camp Lejeune until August 1976, and briefly left for 29 Palms, and returned to Camp Lejeune in September 1976 through October 1978, when he separated from active duty service. Accordingly, the Veteran was exposed to contaminated water for a substantially longer period than five months, as noted by the July 2013 VA examiner. As the examiner’s opinion is based in part on an underestimation on the amount and duration of contaminated water the Veteran was exposed to, it is of limited probative value. The Board notes that the Veteran was awarded service connection for liver cancer in an August 2017 rating decision. Accordingly, the current claim for entitlement to service connection for chronic liver disease excludes his diagnosed liver cancer. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain the Veteran’s VA treatment records for the period from November 2017 to the present. 2. Obtain a VA medical opinion from an appropriate subject matter expert addressing whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran’s diabetes mellitus, eye condition, neurological conditions to include encephalopathy, chronic liver disease (excluding liver cancer), Bell’s palsy, polyneuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity are etiologically related to his active duty service, to include exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. In rendering the opinions requested, the examiner is advised the Veteran was exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune for over two years (discussed above). MICHELLE L. KANE Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD A. Parsons, Associate Counsel