Citation Nr: 21010224 Decision Date: 02/24/21 Archive Date: 02/24/21 DOCKET NO. 14-04 805 DATE: February 24, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for rectal cancer is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from September 1967 to September 1969, including service in the Republic of Vietnam. In April 2017, the Veteran offered testimony at a videoconference hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. A transcript of the hearing has been associated with the record. This matter was remanded by the Board in September 2017, August 2019, and again in November 2020 for development. The Board regrets the additional delay, but remand is again needed. Entitlement to service connection for rectal cancer is remanded. In the most recent November 2020 Board remand the Board noted that the December 2017 examiner had stated that, “the Veteran’s father was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Therefore, care and consideration for hereditary and phenotypic influence is warranted.” The Board further noted that the prior October 2017 VA examination report states that the Veteran’s “[f]ather died of prostate cancer” and that the “Veteran denied family history of colon cancer.” The Board directed the VA examiner should clarify this upon remand as VA treatment records report that the Veteran’s father had colon cancer. See VA treatment record, August 2007 and August 2011. Thereafter, in a January 2021 VA medical opinion, the examiner stated that rectal cancer occurs when the healthy cells in the rectum have mutations in their DNA and these gene mutations can be inherited, passed from parent to child. However, the examiner did not provide any reference or discussion of the December 2017 examiner’s statements that, “the Veteran’s father was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Therefore, care and consideration for hereditary and phenotypic influence is warranted”; the VA treatment records report that the Veteran’s father had colon cancer; or the prior October 2017 VA examination report states that the Veteran’s “[f]ather died of prostate cancer” and that the “Veteran denied family history of colon cancer.” As such, remand for addendum is needed. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain outstanding relevant VA treatment records and associate them with the claim file. 2. After the above development is completed, the AOJ should arrange for a VA addendum opinion, with examination or telehealth interview of the Veteran only if deemed necessary by a medical professional, to determine the address the etiology of the Veteran’s rectal cancer disability. The examiner should review the claim file (including this remand) and note such review was conducted. Based on review of the record, the examiner should provide an addendum with detailed rationale that responds to the following: (a.) Discuss the Veteran’s family history regarding colorectal cancer. The Board notes that the December 2017 examiner wrote that “the Veteran’s father was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Therefore, care and consideration for hereditary and phenotypic influence is warranted.” (b.) Discuss VA treatment records report that the Veteran’s father had colon cancer. See VA treatment record, August 2007 and August 2011. However, the prior October 2017 VA examination report states that the Veteran’s “[f]ather died of prostate cancer” and that the “Veteran denied family history of colon cancer.” This should be clarified upon remand. A detailed rationale is requested for all determinations provided. 3. If upon completion of the above action the issue is denied, the case should be returned to the Board after compliance with appellate procedures. E. I. VELEZ Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board S. Schick, 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.