Citation Nr: 20004459 Decision Date: 01/21/20 Archive Date: 01/21/20 DOCKET NO. 17-10 198 DATE: January 21, 2020 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for coronary artery disease, to include as due to herbicide exposure, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND Although the Board regrets the additional delay, a remand is necessary to ensure that due process is followed and that there is a complete record upon which to decide the Veteran’s claim so that he is afforded every possible consideration. See 38 U.S.C. § 5103A (2012); 38 C.F.R. § 3.159 (2018). The Veteran had active military service from September 1969 to June 1973. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from the March 2016 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Veteran contends that his coronary artery disease is related to his military service, and more specifically, herbicide exposure. The Veteran has stated throughout the record that while aboard the USS Bausell, his ship temporarily anchored in the Da Nang harbor. Additionally, the Veteran stated that one of his duties was to get into a motor boat and go around the ship while in the harbor to record the water-line readings on the hull of the ship. During these duties, the Veteran stated that he was in direct contact with the water of the Da Nang harbor and therefore believes that he was exposed to herbicides. Additionally, the Veteran submitted an article stating that while he was aboard the USS Bausell was in the Indochinese peninsula. The Veteran’s personnel records verify that the Veteran was aboard the USS Bausell from March 26, 1970 to June 25, 1973. The term “service in the Republic of Vietnam” has been interpreted to include both Vietnam’s landmass and its twelve nautical mile territorial sea. Procopio v. Wilkie, 913 F.3d 1371, 137576 (Fed. Cir. 2019). However, it is not clear from the record whether the U.S.S. Bausell operated in the twelve nautical mile territorial sea. As such, a remand is warranted so that attempts can be made to determine whether the U.S.S. Bausell entered the 12 mile limit territorial sea while the Veteran was stationed aboard it. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Contact all appropriate sources to verify whether the U.S.S. Bausell entered the 12 nautical mile territorial sea off the Republic of Vietnam during any verified operations in the region at any time during the Veteran’s time aboard the ship from March 26, 1970 to June 25, 1973. (Continued on the next page)   2. Following completion of the above, and a review of any additional evidence received, the RO should also undertake any other development it deems to be necessary, to include, if warranted, an addendum medical opinion which considers any newly received evidence. MICHAEL MARTIN Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board S. Mountford, 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.