Citation Nr: 21040684 Decision Date: 07/06/21 Archive Date: 07/06/21 DOCKET NO. 16-59 480 DATE: July 6, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for acinic cell parotid gland carcinoma, to include as due to ionizing radiation or exposure to carcinogenic chemicals, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the U.S. Army from July 1984 to November 1984 (he was with the Army Reserves from July 1984 to January 1985) and the U.S. Air Force from January 1985 to April 1988. This matter is 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). The case was last before the Board in December 2018 at which time it was remanded to the RO for additional development. The RO most recently adjudicated the claim in a November 2020 supplemental state of the case. The Board finds that the has not been substantial compliance with the December 2018 remand. The 2018 remand directed the examiner to opine whether the Veteran's acinic cell parotid carcinoma is proximately due to or the result of exposure to chemicals. The examiner's opinion did not address the Veteran's contentions regarding his exposure to chemicals, and in particular to hydrazine, during active duty service. The Veteran has claimed that he was exposed to carcinogenic chemicals, specifically hydrazine, through the exposure to hydraulic fluid and fuels on his bare and scratched up hands as well as general splashes as an aircraft maintenance specialist. Although the Veteran is not competent to state what chemical was exposed to, he is competent to report about what he experienced during his service and that he was exposed to some type of chemical agent. As the Veteran's military personnel records reflect that his military occupational specialty was as an aircraft maintenance specialist and the Board's understanding that hydrazine is used in aircraft emergency fuels by the U.S. Air Force, the Board finds that it is necessary to remand so a VA examiner to consider the Veteran's contention that his exposure to hydrazine in service caused his acinic cell parotid gland carcinoma. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain an opinion from an appropriate clinician to determine the nature, and etiology of his acinic cell parotid gland carcinoma. A copy of the file must be made available to and reviewed by the examiner. The clinician is requested to offer an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or more) that acinic cell parotid gland carcinoma is proximately due to or the result of exposure to chemicals, to include hydrazine, during his time in service. 2. Further in-person examination of the Veteran is left to the discretion of the clinician providing the opinion. If the clinician deems such examination necessary to provide the information requested below, then such an examination should be scheduled. 3. Any stated opinion should be supported by a complete rationale. If the clinician cannot provide an opinion without resorting to mere speculation, this should be so stated along with supporting rationale. In so doing, the clinician shall explain whether the inability to provide a more definitive opinion is the result of a need for additional information, or that he or she has exhausted the limits of current medical knowledge in providing an answer to the particular question. John J. Crowley Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board V. Woehlke 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.