Citation Nr: 21061763 Decision Date: 10/05/21 Archive Date: 10/05/21 DOCKET NO. 20-21 473 DATE: October 5, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for residuals of prostate cancer is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from January 1965 to November 1968. The Veteran testified before the undersigned Veteran's Law Judge (VLJ) at a July 2021 virtual hearing, and a transcript has been associated with the claims file. Entitlement to service connection for residuals of prostate cancer is remanded. The Veteran asserts that his prostate cancer is a result of his active service, to include presumed exposure to herbicide agents. In various statements, the Veteran and his representative have asserted that while the Veteran was stationed in the Philippines, he was sent to Vietnam on temporary duty (TDY) assignments to Tan Son Nhut, Da Nang, and Cam Ranh Bay, as part of the 463rd Field Maintenance Squadron (463rd FMS). The Veteran reported that he attempted to gather information but was told that only a record of his permanent duty stations would be documented and that any TDY assignments were erased or deleted. Similarly, he reported that his request for Leave and Earnings Statements (LES) to show his additional "missed-meal money" pay vouchers that were granted to TDY personnel were too far in the past. The Veteran's DD Form 214 documents that his last duty assignment as an aircraft radio repairman was with the 463rd FMS, that he had 9 months and 25 days of foreign service, and that he received the Vietnam Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star ("1BSS"). His service personnel records show that the Veteran had foreign service in the Philippines beginning in January 1968. The Board finds that further action on the part of VA is required to assist the Veteran in verifying his claimed service in Vietnam. Specifically, the Board finds a request for review of the unit history from January 1968 to November 1968 should be made to determine whether there are notations that aircraft radio repairman from the 463rd FMS were sent on TDY to Vietnam during this period. If additional information is required from the Veteran before the inquiry can be submitted, the Veteran should be asked to provide the necessary information. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Undertake all necessary development, to include contacting the Records Management and Declassification Agency (RMDA) and any other appropriate agency, to attempt to verify the Veteran's reported temporary duty (TDY) assignments to Vietnam between January 1968 and November 1968. This includes, if necessary, submitting multiple requests to JSRRC in 60-day increments to cover the entire relevant service period. In this regard, a search should be conducted of the records of the Veteran's Air Force unit, the 463rd Field Maintenance Squadron (463rd FMS), for any reference of either the Veteran's or his unit's presence in Vietnam during this timeframe. All requests made and responses received should be documented in the claims file, and a summary of the findings should be provided in a memorandum and associated with the claims file. If such verification is not possible, it should be so certified for the record, along with a description of the extent of the verification that was attempted. If additional information is required from the Veteran before the inquiry can be submitted, the Veteran should be asked to provide the necessary information. A. P. SIMPSON Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board D. Chad Johnson, 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.