Citation Nr: 21024711 Decision Date: 04/26/21 Archive Date: 04/26/21 DOCKET NO. 16-33 543 DATE: April 26, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for basal cell carcinoma (claimed as skin condition), to include as due to herbicide exposure, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from July 1968 to July 1971, including service in the Republic of Vietnam. This matter is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal of an August 2015 rating decision of the Huntington, West Virginia, Regional Office (RO) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In November 2018, the Board remanded the case for further development. While the Board regrets the delay, an addendum opinion is needed to fully and fairly evaluate the claim. Pursuant to the Board’s November 2018 remand, a VA examination and medical opinion were obtained in August 2019. The August 2019 VA examination report reflects that an evaluation of the Veteran’s claimed skin disorder was undertaken and that a negative opinion was provided. However, upon review of the rationale, the Board notes that the VA examiner indicated that he was unable to review and address the Veteran’s lay statement found in the “May 2016” VA Form 9, as asked in the Board’s remand directives. A review of the Veteran’s claims file shows that the VA Form 9 was dated in June 2016 and associated with the claims file in July 2016. Unfortunately, the date of the VA Form 9 was noted incorrectly in the last remand, and thus, was not reviewed by the August 2019 VA examiner when providing the requested opinion and rationale regarding the relationship between the Veteran’s currently diagnosed skin disorders and his service. As such, a supplemental opinion is warranted. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: Return the Veteran’s claims file to the examiner who provided the August 2019 VA medical opinion for an addendum opinion. If the prior examiner is not available, the file must be forwarded to another similarly qualified examiner to obtain the requested opinion. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) that the diagnosed skin disorder(s) of record, including basal cell carcinoma, had its onset during or is otherwise related to service, to include herbicide exposure. The examiner is asked to discuss the Veteran’s lay statements, to include the statements found in the VA Form 9 dated in June 2016 and associated with the claims file in July 2016. The examiner must provide a comprehensive report, including complete rationales for all opinions and conclusions reached. A. C. MACKENZIE Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board A-L Evans, 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.