Citation Nr: 20023936 Decision Date: 04/07/20 Archive Date: 04/07/20 DOCKET NO. 15-38 957A DATE: April 7, 2020 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for cause the Veteran’s death is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from June 1966 to January 1970. He died in September 1993. The appellant is the Veteran’s surviving spouse. This matter is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a May 2014 decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office. In February 2019 a Board hearing was held before the undersigned. A transcript of the hearing is associated with the Veteran’s claims file. Entitlement to service connection for cause of the Veteran’s death is remanded. The Veteran died in September 1993, with the cause of death listed as metabolic encephalopathy. At the time of the Veteran’s death, service connection was not in effect for any disabilities. The appellant has asserted the Veteran was exposed to chemicals in Vietnam. In a May 2015 statement, she asserted that the Veteran suffered from ailments associated with chemical exposure from his time in service. She stated he was stationed in Thailand and Vietnam on an Air Force Base and delivered supplies via plane and helicopter to Vietnam bases, during 1968 and 1969. In an October 2015 letter she reported that she and the Veteran were married in 1971. She reported the Veteran suffered from headaches, gastrointestinal issues, kidney problems, liver problems, and shaky hands. The Veteran’s personnel records indicate he was stationed in Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. His duties were described as “squadron duty driver, jack of all trades, Yin Co-ordinator, Thai-American relations program monitor, coffee lounge squatter, and resident tealock.” Records also indicate he received specialty training in fabric, leather, and rubber production repair. Personnel records also indicate he had temporary duty from Udorn Royal Thai Airforce Base in Thailand, to Nha Trang, AB in the Republic of Vietnam. As such, service in the Republic of Vietnam is confirmed, and hence, exposure to herbicides has been conceded. To afford the appellant all consideration for the claimed metabolic encephalopathy and the cause of death, the Board finds that an opinion addressing whether it is related to service, to include as due to exposure to herbicides, would be helpful. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain and associate with the claims file any outstanding VAMC and private treatment records for his metabolic encephalopathy. 2. Forward the claims file to an appropriate examiner for an opinion on the cause of the Veteran’s death. The examiner is asked to answer the following: Is it at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s metabolic encephalopathy is related to his service, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents, such as Agent Orange, and other chemicals/exposures identified in the claims file (such as jet fuel)? The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents, to include Agent Orange. In providing the requested opinion, the examiner is reminded that VA laws and regulations do not preclude service connection for a disorder due to herbicide exposure that is not on the list of diseases presumptively associated with exposure to herbicide agents. A complete rationale for all opinions must be provided. H.M. WALKER Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board E. Skiouris, 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.