Citation Nr: 19134530 Decision Date: 05/06/19 Archive Date: 05/03/19 DOCKET NO. 16-37 645 DATE: May 6, 2019 REMANDED Service connection for B-cell leukemia with thrombocytosis is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Navy from February 1965 to December 1967. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a March 2014 rating decision from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran presented sworn testimony at a hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge (VLJ) in July 2017. In February 2019, this case was stayed in accordance with the implementation of the ruling in Procopio v. Wilkie, 913 F. 3d 1371 (Fed. Cir. 2019). See Board Chairman’s Memorandum, No. 01-18-18 (October 22, 2018). B-Cell Leukemia The Veteran asserts that he is entitled to service connection for B-cell leukemia with thrombocytosis as he acquired the disability because of his service aboard the USS Shasta while in the Gulf of Tonkin. The Veteran also asserts that he traveled to Da Nang, Vietnam to resupply communication gear while the USS Shasta was in the Gulf of Tonkin. Alternatively, he contends that exposure to red lead paint and asbestos aboard the ship resulted in his current disability. The Veteran has a history of thrombocytosis. Medical records indicate that chronic myelogenous leukemia and essential thrombocytosis needed to be ruled out. See November 2013 private treatment record. He was also previously diagnosed with essential thrombocythemia and leukocytosis. See December 2008 private treatment record. Currently, the Board is unable to determine whether the Veteran has a diagnosis of B-cell leukemia. Thus, a medical examination is necessary. The current JSRRC memorandum concludes that there is no evidence that Navy ships transported tactical herbicides into Vietnam or that Navy ships operating off the coast of Vietnam were used, stored, tested, or transported tactical herbicides. See March 2014 JSRRC memorandum. However, pursuant to Procopio, additional development is necessary to determine whether during the Veteran’s deployment, November 1966 to April 1967, the USS Shasta was ever stationed within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain any outstanding VA treatment records and ask the Veteran to provide authorizations for any private medical records he would like considered in connection with his appeal. 2. Contact the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) or any other appropriate service department offices to obtain the Veteran’s entire Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), including all records of his assignments, whether permanent or temporary duty stations; all travel orders; pay stubs that reflect special pay status, travel vouchers, dislocation allowance, and all TDY orders. Efforts to obtain the foregoing records must continue until it is determined that they do not exist or that further attempts to obtain them would be futile. The non-existence or unavailability of such records must be verified by each Federal department or agency from whom they are sought, and this should be documented for the record. 3. Notify the Veteran that he may submit lay statements from himself and from other individuals with first hand knowledge, and/or were contemporaneously informed of his service in Vietnam and the proximity of sea service to Vietnam. The Veteran should be provided an appropriate amount of time to submit this lay evidence. 4. Request that JSRRC, or other official source, investigate and attempt to verify the Veteran’s reports that the USS Shasta was stationed in the Gulf of Tonkin of at any time during his period of active duty, November 1966 to April 1967. There should also be a finding determining whether the USS Shasta was ever stationed within 12 nautical miles of the coast of Vietnam. The JSSRC should also investigate and attempt to corroborate the Veteran’s reports of exposure to red lead paint and asbestos aboard the USS Shasta. JSRRC must also be asked to provide the histories of the Veteran’s unit(s) during the time he served.   5. Afford the Veteran a VA examination to determine the onset and etiology of any identified blood disorders, including leukemia. A diagnosis of B-cell leukemia must be ruled in or excluded. The examiner should opine whether it is at least as likely as not that any identified blood disorders, found to be present, including leukemia are caused by or related to: service, exposure to herbicides, red lead paint, and asbestos. STEVEN D. REISS Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD K.Ijitimehin, Associate Counsel The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential, and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.