Citation Nr: 21040486 Decision Date: 07/03/21 Archive Date: 07/03/21 DOCKET NO. 14-32 120A DATE: July 3, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for leukemia, to include myelodysplastic syndrome, is remanded REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from October 1951 to October 1983. The Appellant is his surviving spouse. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal of a July 2013 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Board was notified that the Veteran died in May 2017. The Veteran's surviving spouse was substituted as the Appellant for the purpose of processing the Veteran's claims to completion. See Breedlove v. Shinseki, 24 Vet. App. 7 (2010). This claim was last before the Board in March 2021. The Board remanded the claim for the RO to obtain outstanding Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran's record shows the RO in fact requested the SSA records on March 16, 2021. On April 1, 2021, the RO received notification from the SSA National Records Center that stated the Veteran's records have been destroyed. This case was also remanded in August 2020 for a VA opinion. The August 2020 remand specifically requested that the examiner address the prior 2014 and 2015 VA opinions and the August 2011 private opinion. The VA opinion was produced in October 2020. The RO then found that an addendum opinion was required due to the examiner failing to address the prior VA and private opinions as requested in the August 2020 remand. The addendum opinion was produced in December 2020. The examiner again failed to address the prior opinions. The examiner copied the text from the February 2015 VA opinion and listed the other opinions. However, other than concluding that myelodysplastic syndrome has not been associated with herbicide exposure, there is no substantive discussion or rationale regarding the prior opinions as requested in the August 2020 remand. Unfortunately, the Board finds the opinions inadequate, and another remand is required. Stegall v. West, 11 Vet. App. 268 (1998). The Board finds that the October and December 2020 examiners' opinions lack an adequate rationale or discussion regarding the prior opinions in the Veteran's record. Thus, the claim is remanded. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: The RO should return the claim to the examiner who conducted the October 2020 VA medical opinion for leukemia, or another suitable examiner if the examiner is not available. The examiner should be provided the entire claims file including all Board remands. The examiner should state whether he or she has reviewed the file. The examiner should address the following: (a.) Whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) that the diagnosed disorder had its onset during, or was otherwise related to, the Veteran's active service, to include exposure to herbicides. The examiner must specifically address the positive private opinion from August 2011, the December 2014 VA opinion, and the February 2015 VA opinion. A complete rationale should be given for all opinions and conclusions expressed. A. C. MACKENZIE Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board D. Hetman 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.