Citation Nr: 21072670 Decision Date: 12/06/21 Archive Date: 12/06/21 DOCKET NO. 15-18 952 DATE: December 6, 2021 REMANDED The issue of service connection for a skin disorder is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The issue of service connection for a skin disorder is remanded. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. BACKGROUND FOR THE RO ADJUDICATOR: In a June 2020 Remand, the Board directed the RO to attempt to verify the Veteran's report that he was near a chemical incident in King Khalid Military City in January 1991. Although the RO added the Veteran's service personnel records to his file, there is no evidence in the record of any attempted verification of the exposure. Remand is necessary to ensure compliance with the Board's prior remand directive. The RO's compliance with the Board's remand instructions is neither optional nor discretionary. Stegall v. West, 11 Vet. App. 268 (1998). Although several VA examinations and medical opinions have been obtained, none has adequately addressed whether each of the Veteran's skin disorders was caused by each of the claimed in-service exposures. Therefore, remand is necessary to obtain complete opinions. 2. Take all appropriate steps to attempt to verify the Veteran's report that he was near a chemical incident in King Khalid Military City in January 1991. A formal finding of the determination must be associated with the file. 3. AFTER COMPLETION OF STEP 2 AND THE ADDITION OF THE FORMAL FINDING TO THE RECORD, schedule the Veteran for a VA skin examination WITH A DERMATOLOGIST to obtain an opinion as to the nature and etiology of each identified skin disorder. All indicated tests and studies should be accomplished and the findings reported in detail. All relevant medical records must be made available to the examiner for review of pertinent documents. The examination report should specifically state that such a review was conducted. The examiner must provide a comprehensive explanation for all opinions provided. The examiner should address the following: (a.) Identify each skin disorder which the Veteran currently has or has had at any time during the pendency of this claim. (b.) Whether each of the following was caused by any in-service event, injury, disease, or disorder: i. Erythematous papules. ii. Folliculitis. iii. Dermatomycosis. iv. Tinea versicolor. v. Nummular eczema. vi. Any other identified skin disorder. The Veteran's records indicate April 1975 lesions and a cyst on the penis, February 1976 rash with blistering on the left upper extremity and a diagnosis of possible dermatitis, December 1976 penile lesions, a June 1977 skin break, January 1987 scrotal dermatitis, June 1989 ganglion cyst on the wrist, November 1989 sore on the back of the hand, December 1989 rash and diagnosis of tinea cruris, the December 1995 report of medical history at service separate indicates skin diseases and that the Veteran had peeling and flaking of the scrotum since 1986, and the December 1995 physical examination for service separation states that the Veteran had cysts. 4. Whether each of the following was caused by exposure to environmental hazards in Southwest Asia, including oil droplets and smoke: i. Erythematous papules. ii. Folliculitis. iii. Dermatomycosis. iv. Tinea versicolor. v. Nummular eczema. vi. Any other identified skin disorder. 5. Whether each of the following is without a conclusive pathophysiology or etiology: i. Erythematous papules. ii. Folliculitis. iii. Dermatomycosis. iv. Tinea versicolor. v. Nummular eczema. vi. Any other identified skin disorder. If the examiner concludes that that a skin disorder has a conclusive pathophysiology and etiology, they must describe both for that skin disorder. Jacqueline E. Miller Acting Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board Comninos, Georgio 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.