Citation Nr: 21062369 Decision Date: 10/07/21 Archive Date: 10/07/21 DOCKET NO. 16-63 725 DATE: October 7, 2021 ORDER Entitlement to service connection myelofibrosis, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents, is denied. FINDING OF FACT The preponderance of the evidence of record is against finding that the Veteran has had myelofibrosis at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for service connection for myelofibrosis, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents, are not met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 5107; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran service on active duty from March 1966 to October 1968. The Veteran was scheduled for his requested Board hearing in July 2021; however, he failed to appear and has not submitted evidence showing good cause for such failure. Thus, the Board finds that his hearing request has been withdrawn. Entitlement to service connection myelofibrosis, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents The Veteran has asserted that his myelofibrosis is due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The Veteran's service records show that the Veteran served in the Republic of Vietnam during the applicable time period beginning on January 9, 1962 and ending on May 7, 1975. He is therefore presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents. 38 U.S.C. § 1116 (f). Service connection may be granted for disability resulting from disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active service. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 5107; 38 C.F.R. § 3.303. The three-element test for service connection requires evidence of: (1) a current disability; (2) in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury; and (3) a causal relationship between the current disability and the in-service disease or injury. Shedden v. Principi, 381 F.3d 1163, 1166 -67 (Fed. Cir. 2004). The question for the Board is whether the Veteran has a current disability that began during service or is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The Board concludes that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of myelofibrosis and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim. Romanowsky v. Shinseki, 26 Vet. App. 289, 294 (2013); McClain v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 319, 321 (2007). Service treatment records are silent with respect to any findings associated with myelofibrosis. Despite requesting information and evidence from the Veteran in October 2015 to support the claim, the record does not contain any post-service medical evidence associated with this claim. The Veteran has not submitted; nor identified any medical records showing a diagnosis or treatment for symptoms associate with myelofibrosis. He has also not provided any lay evidence concerning symptoms. While VA has a duty to assist a veteran in the development of a claim, such veteran has a duty to cooperate with VA. See Wood v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 190 (1991). Although the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in service, given the lack of any evidence of a current diagnosis, the Board finds that a VA examination is not necessary. See McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006). In conclusion, given the lack of competent lay and medical evidence showing a diagnosis of myelofibrosis, service connection must be denied. See 38 U.S.C. § 5107 (b). L. M. BARNARD Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board J.N. Moats 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.