Citation Nr: 20002349
Decision Date: 01/10/20	Archive Date: 01/10/20

DOCKET NO. 16-24 869
DATE: January 10, 2020 

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for multiple myeloma is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty in the U.S. Army from April 1968 to January 1970.

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from a September 2015 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) which denied service connection for multiple myeloma.  The Veteran filed a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) in September 2015.  Following the issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) in April 2016, the Veteran filed a timely Form 9 in May 2016.

The Veteran was afforded a Board videoconference hearing before the undersigned in February 2019.

This case has been advanced on the docket pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 20.900(c).

1. Entitlement to service connection for multiple myeloma.

The Veteran claims that he developed multiple myeloma as a result of his exposure to Agent Orange during his tour of duty in Korea.  

The Veteran’s service personnel records reflect that he was stationed at Camp Carroll Depot in Korea from January 1969 to January 1970.  The RO has denied the claim on the basis that the Veteran did not serve in a unit that operated in or near the Korean DMZ.  38 C.F.R. § 3.307(a)(6)(iv).

In a September 2015 statement and at his February 2019 Board hearing, however, the Veteran indicated that although he was stationed at Camp Carroll, he had multiple periods of TDY “up North” for the purpose of installing poles and wires along the DMZ.  He indicated that he visited various locations during his tour of duty in Korea, including Camp Red Cloud and Camp Casey.  He recalled that from approximately May to November 1969, he was on TDY along the DMZ.  During that period, he joined the unit’s football team and played in cleared fields.  He also recalled visiting sick call on two or three occasions.  

The Board notes that a review of the Veteran’s service treatment records reflects entries between August and October 1969 showing that he sought medical treatment for various complaints at the 125th Medical Detachment, apparently at Camp Red Cloud.  His unit was listed as “TDY football.” 

Given the foregoing, the Board finds that the RO must undertake development to ascertain whether the Veteran served in or near the Korean DMZ during his tour of duty in Korea.  38 C.F.R. § 3.814(c)(2).

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The matter is REMANDED for the following action:

Send a request to the U.S. Army and Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) for verification of the Veteran’s exposure to herbicide agents during his reported service along the DMZ.

 

 

K. Conner

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	Steven Grodnitzky, 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.