Citation Nr: 21004827 Decision Date: 01/28/21 Archive Date: 01/28/21 DOCKET NO. 16-45 952 DATE: January 28, 2021 REMANDED Claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran honorably served on Active Duty for Training from June 11, 1987 to August 25, 1987. The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (diabetes). In doing so, he has argued several theories in support of his claim. One theory is that he was exposed to environmental hazards while serving as part of Company A 40th Military Police Battalion at Fort McClellan, Alabama; and that he developed diabetes as a result of this exposure. Evidence in the claims file confirms that the Veteran trained at Fort McClellan during his period of active duty. His training at Fort McClellan consisted of a Law Enforcement Course that lasted for a period of 9 weeks. The Veteran’s record of assignments shows that his principal duty assignment after returning to the U.S. Army Reserve was with the Military Police. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website, some members of the Army Military Police School, among others, may have been exposed to one or more of several hazardous materials, likely at low levels, during their service at Fort McClellan. See www.publichealth.va.gov/exposure/fort-mcclellan. Potential exposures could have included, but are not limited to, the following: • Radioactive compounds (cesium-137 and cobalt-60) used in decontamination training activities in isolated locations on base. • Chemical warfare agents (mustard gas and nerve agents) used in decontamination testing activities in isolated locations on base. • Airborne polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from the Monsanto plant in the neighboring town. VA does not presume that any adverse health conditions are associated with service at Fort McClellan. In doing so, VA acknowledges that exposures to high levels of the above-referenced compounds have been shown to cause a variety of adverse health effects in humans and laboratory animals, there is no evidence of exposures of this magnitude having occurred at Fort McClellan. Therefore, service connection on a presumptive basis is not available. However, service connection on a direct basis may still be available upon which to grant the Veteran’s claim if it can be shown that he has a current disability (i.e., his diabetes), evidence of an in-service event (i.e., his possible exposure to hazardous materials), and medical evidence of a nexus between the two. The Board finds that a remand is warranted in this case in order to obtain a medical opinion regarding the relationship, if any, between the Veteran’s diabetes and his exposure to any hazardous materials at Fort McClellan. This matter is REMANDED for the following actions: Afford the Veteran an appropriate VA examination (virtual if needed) with an appropriately qualified medical provider. In doing so, the examiner is asked to review this remand in full and consider the known hazardous materials at Camp McClellan. Thereafter, the examiner should provide a medical opinion as to whether it is as least as likely as not that the Veteran’s diabetes is related to his exposure to any hazardous materials at Camp McClellan. A rationale for the medical opinion must be provided, as well as citation to any research materials taken into consideration. If a medical opinion cannot be provided without resort to speculation, the examiner should indicate such. He or she should also indicate whether an opinion cannot be provided due to a lack of expertise on his or her part or because no medical professional could render the requested opinion. H.M. WALKER Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Talpins, Patricia 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.