Citation Nr: 21009557 Decision Date: 02/22/21 Archive Date: 02/22/21 DOCKET NO. 190103-2831 DATE: February 22, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for bladder cancer, or residuals thereof, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran, who is the appellant in this case, served on active duty from November 1956 to November 1960. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a September 2015 rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In May 2019, the Board denied entitlement to service connection for bladder cancer, or residuals thereof. The Veteran appealed this denied claim. In August 2020, the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court) granted an August 2020 Joint Motion for Remand (JMR) by counsel for the Veteran and VA, vacated the Board's May 2019 decision, and remanded this matter to the Board for development consistent with the JMR. Entitlement to service connection for bladder cancer, or residuals thereof, is remanded. As noted above, the Court granted the August 2020 JMR, finding that the Board erred insofar as it relied upon a January 2019 VA examination report that was inadequate as it did not provide a sufficient rationale for its opinion addressing whether the Veteran’s bladder cancer was attributable to his in-service exposure to jet fuel and fumes, and did not address whether the Veteran’s bladder cancer was attributable to his in-service exposure to asbestos. Specifically, the parties agreed in the JMR that remand was warranted for the Board to obtain a new medical opinion that provides a sufficient medical rationale addressing whether the Veteran’s bladder cancer was attributable to in-service exposures to jet fuel or fumes and asbestos. Pursuant to the JMR, the Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate VA medical opinion. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain another medical opinion from the 2019 VA examiner, or a suitable substitute, as to the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s bladder cancer. An examination is not required; however, if the VA examiner indicates that s/he cannot adequately respond to the Board's questions without examination of the Veteran or additional medical evidence, an examination should be afforded to the Veteran. **IF an in-person examination is not feasible given the circumstances surrounding the recent pandemic, attempt to obtain the necessary medical information and opinions through other means, such as scheduling the Veteran for a virtual interview with a VA examiner. After review of the claims file, the VA examiner shall provide the following opinions: a) Whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s bladder cancer is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) related to service, specifically to include exposure to jet fuel and fumes while serving as a jet engine mechanic in a fuel system repair shop during service. b) Whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s bladder cancer is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) related to exposure to asbestos during service. He reported that, during service he worked for a few months in the tire shop for B-47 bombers and was exposed to asbestos dust when blowing dust out of the wheels. A detailed rationale should be provided for the opinions rendered. If the examiner references medical articles/studies, s/he should discuss how those articles/studies relate to this Veteran’s claims. S. B. MAYS Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board M. Thomas, 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.