Citation Nr: 20052969 Decision Date: 08/10/20 Archive Date: 08/10/20 DOCKET NO. 17-42 547 DATE: August 10, 2020 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active naval service from October 1962 to October 1964 and August 1973 to May 1976, including service in the Naval Reserves. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a September 2015 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In his August 2017 substantive appeal, the Veteran requested that he be afforded a hearing before a member of the Board. The Veteran was scheduled for his requested hearing. However, in an October 2018 statement, the Veteran withdrew his hearing request. This case was previously before the Board in November 2018, at which time the issue currently on appeal was remanded for additional development. The case has now been returned to the Board for further appellate action. Service Connection – Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma The Board finds that additional development is required before the claim is decided. The Veteran has reported that he was exposed to herbicides while serving aboard naval vessels while they sailed within 12 nautical miles of the Republic of Vietnam. Specifically, the Veteran has alleged that while a member of Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON)-22, his duties and assignments included traveling from ship to ship in various transports. He reported that during his time in TACRON-22, he was aboard the U.S.S. Iwo Jima, U.S.S. Hermitage, U.S.S. Francis Marion, U.S.S. Shreveport, and U.S.S. Mount Whitney. It does not appear from the record that the appropriate development was conducted to determine whether any of those vessels sailed within the 12 nautical mile range of the Republic of Vietnam for purposes of establishing presumptive exposure to herbicides. Therefore, the appropriate development should be taken to verify whether the Veteran had exposure to herbicides while aboard naval vessels serving near the Republic of Vietnam. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Conduct the appropriate development to determine whether the Veteran served aboard a Naval vessel within 12 nautical miles of the Republic of Vietnam. Specifically, to specifically include while aboard the U.S.S. Iwo Jima, U.S.S. Hermitage, U.S.S. Francis Marion, U.S.S. Shreveport, and/or U.S.S. Mount Whitney. All development efforts made in this regard must be documented in the claims file. 2. Confirm that the development conducted comports with this remand and undertake any other development determined to be warranted. (Continued on the next page)   3. Then, readjudicate the appeal. If the decision is adverse to the Veteran, issue a supplemental statement of the case and allow appropriate time for response. Then, return the case to the Board. Kristin Haddock Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board D. Ware, 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.