Citation Nr: 21066951 Decision Date: 11/03/21 Archive Date: 11/03/21 DOCKET NO. 18-19 123A DATE: November 3, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for primary myelofibrosis, to include as a result of radiation, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Navy from October 1977 to January 1986. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from an April 2017 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in a May 2021 Board hearing. A transcript is of record. The Veteran asserts that he was exposed to radiation during his service aboard the USS Thomas Edison. See May 2021 Hearing Transcript. He asserts that the exposure to radiation caused his myelofibrosis. See id. The Veteran's service treatment records (STRs) do not show complaints, findings, or diagnoses of myelofibrosis. However, the Veteran's STRs and military personnel records establish that he was aboard the USS Thomas Edison and was exposed to radiation. See Service Treatment records, Military Personnel Records. As such, the Board concedes exposure. A November 2017 advisory opinion from the Naval Dosimetry Center, however, determined that the exposure did not meet or exceed an annual dose estimated of 5 rem or 10 rem in a lifetime. The Board observes that myelofibrosis is considered a radiogenic disease under 38 C.F.R. § 3.311(b)(2) as it is a type of blood cancer. Specifically, the evidence of record establishes that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of myelofibrosis. See CAPRI Records. The Veteran contends his diagnosis was caused by his active military service, to include exposure to radiation aboard the USS Thomas Edison. The Board notes that the Veteran's private physician submitted a medical opinion in June 2017. The physician opined that his prior exposure to ionizing radiation likely contributed to his development of myelofibrosis. See June 2017 Private University of North Carolina Cancer Center Medical Opinion. Unfortunately, the Board finds this medical opinion to be inadequate, as the physician failed to provide a supporting rationale. Furthermore, it is undeterminable whether the physician based her medical opinion based on the entire claims file. In light of the above, the Board finds that a medical opinion should be afforded regarding the Veteran's claim. See 38 U.S.C. § 5103A; Wood v. Peake, 520 F.3d 1345, 1348 (Fed. Cir. 2008) (noting that VA is obligated to obtain a medical opinion when there is a reasonable possibility that such would aid in substantiating the claim). This matter is REMANDED for the following action: After completing any further development deemed necessary, the RO should schedule the Veteran for a VA medical examination to determine the etiology of his myelofibrosis with an appropriate examiner who must review the claims file. The examiner must address the following, with all opinions supported by a rationale: whether it is at least as likely as not (an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence) that the Veteran's myelofibrosis is etiologically related to period of service, including radiation exposure therein. The examiner is requested to consider and address the Veteran's lay statements, to include those in the May 2021 hearing. All opinions must be supported by a rationale. A. C. MACKENZIE Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board Glaeser, Jennifer 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.