Citation Nr: 21077519 Decision Date: 12/30/21 Archive Date: 12/30/21 DOCKET NO. 12-17 382 DATE: December 30, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a skin disorder, claimed as due to herbicide exposure, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from December 1969 to December 1971. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal of a December 2011 rating decision of the Detroit, Michigan Regional Office (RO) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Veteran testified at a hearing conducted by the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in April 2013. A transcript of the hearing has been associated with the Veteran's VA claims file. The Board denied the Veteran's claim in a December 30, 2020, decision, and the Veteran appealed the decision to the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court). The parties filed a Joint Motion for Remand (Joint Motion), and an August 2021 Order of the Court vacated the Board's decision that denied the Veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for a skin disorder, claimed as due to herbicide exposure, because it failed to consider other diagnoses made during the appeal period. It was further determined that the Board did not analyze favorable evidence of symptoms and treatment for a skin disorder during the appeal period and did not consider that the Veteran was competent to describe his observable symptoms, such as itchiness and redness, and the fact that he experienced these symptoms since service. Entitlement to service connection for a skin disorder, claimed as due to herbicide exposure In its December 2020 decision, the Board highlighted the August 2020 VA examination that found that the Veteran only had a current diagnosis of atopic dermatitis from 1971. The examiner noted prior diagnoses including neuro dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, seborrheic keratosis, folliculitis of the scalp, rosacea, and lichen complex, but found that they had resolved and were no longer active. The Board further highlighted that the Veteran was competent to describe his observable symptoms with regards to his skin disorder but ultimately concluded that he was not competent to provide testimony regarding whether it was caused by his exposure to Agent Orange. However, in light of the findings of the August 2021 JMR, the Board finds that a new examination is warranted to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed skin disorder. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Schedule the Veteran for an examination to determine the current severity and etiology of any diagnosed skin disorder. The VA examiner is requested to provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that any diagnosed skin disorder is due to an event or incident of the Veteran's period of active service, including as a result of herbicide exposure. In rendering this opinion, the examiner is to assume that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service. A clear rationale for all opinions would be helpful and a discussion of the facts and medical principles involved would be of considerable assistance to the Board. Michael J. Skaltsounis Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board A. Daniels, 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.