Citation Nr: 18160101 Decision Date: 12/21/18 Archive Date: 12/21/18 DOCKET NO. 16-07 618 DATE: December 21, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a lung disorder, to include as due to in service asbestos exposure, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from November 1963 to April 1966. The Veteran initially filed a claim for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This claim, however, encompasses all lung disorders reasonably be raised by the record. Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1 (2009). Here, the record reflects that the Veteran has been diagnosed with additional lung disorders, to include pulmonary fibrosis. His claim has thus been expanded. Entitlement to service connection for a lung disorder is remanded. As indicated above, the claim on appeal has been expanded and encompasses additional lung disorders, to include the Veteran’s diagnosed pulmonary fibrosis. As the December 2013 VA examiner discussed the Veteran’s pulmonary fibrosis and indicated that pulmonary fibrosis can be caused by asbestos exposure. However, this opinion is speculative and does not clarify whether the Veteran’s pulmonary fibrosis is related to his in-service exposure to asbestos. Thus, as there is no opinion that specifically addresses the etiology of the Veteran’s pulmonary fibrosis, the Board finds that the current evidence of record is insufficient to adjudicate adequately the Veteran’s claim. Accordingly, on remand, a new VA examination and opinion must be provided to address the etiology of pulmonary fibrosis, to include any additional diagnosed lung disorder. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: 1. With the Veteran’s assistance, obtain any outstanding records of pertinent medical treatment from VA or private health care providers, to include VA treatment records dated after March 2016. All reasonable attempts to obtain such records should be made and documented. If any records cannot be obtained after reasonable efforts have been made, issue a formal determination that such records do not exist or that further efforts to obtain such records would be futile. The Veteran must be notified in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(e). 2. Thereafter, obtain a VA examination and opinion from an appropriate examiner to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s lung disorder. The claims folder (including a copy of this remand) must be provided to, and reviewed by, the examiner as part of the examination. All indicated tests should be accomplished, and all clinical findings should be reported in detail. a) After considering the pertinent information in the record, the examiner should identify all diagnosed lung disorders, to include pulmonary fibrosis. b) For each currently diagnosed lung disorder, to include pulmonary fibrosis, the examiner should opine as to whether it is at least as likely as not (i.e., 50 percent probability or greater) that the diagnosed lung disorder had its onset during active service, or is otherwise related to active service, to include in service asbestos exposure. The examiner is instructed that, for purposes of the requested opinion, asbestos exposure is conceded. The examiner is advised that the Veteran is competent to report his symptoms/history and that such reports must be acknowledged and considered in formulating any opinion. If his reports are discounted, the examiner should provide a reason for doing so. A rationale for all requested opinions shall be provided. If the examiner cannot provide an opinion without resorting to mere speculation, he or she shall provide a complete explanation stating why this is so. In so doing, the examiner shall explain whether the inability to provide a more definitive opinion is the result of a need for additional information or that he or she has exhausted the limits of current medical knowledge in providing an answer to that particular question. THERESA M. CATINO Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD P. E. Metzner, Associate Counsel