Citation Nr: 22014789
Decision Date: 03/15/22	Archive Date: 03/15/22

DOCKET NO. 17-20 405
DATE: March 15, 2022

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for a disability manifested by shortness of breath, to include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as secondary to service-connected Hodgkin's Lymphoma, is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran had active service from October 1965 to September 1969. He testified at a virtual hearing before the undersigned in November 2020, a transcript is of record.

The issue was previously before the Board in January 2021, at which time it was remanded for further development.  In a March 2021 rating decision, the Veteran was granted entitlement to service connection for Hodgkin's Lymphoma on a presumed basis as VA conceded that the Veteran had been exposed to herbicide agents under the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, Pub. L. No. 116-23, 133 Stat. 966 (2019) (BWNVVA) (codified at 38 U.S.C. §§ 1116A, 1116B, 1822, 3703, 3731).

The Veteran underwent VA examination in March 2021 at which time he was diagnosed with COPD and chemotherapy-induced pulmonary toxicity.  The VA examiner opined that it was less likely than not that the Veteran's COPD was proximately due to his service-connected Hodgkin's Lymphoma as the Veteran had a 40-pack year history of tobacco use and such use is the known cause of COPD.    However, the Board notes that an opinion regarding aggravation was not provided.  The VA examiner also noted that chemotherapy-induced pulmonary toxicity is an acute event associated with chemotherapy and requires only acute treatment.  In a May 2021 addendum, the VA examiner noted that the Veteran's chemotherapy-induced pulmonary toxicity had resolved without residuals.

Remand is warranted so that an addendum medical opinion may be obtained addressing with the Veteran's service-connected Hodgkin's Lymphoma aggravated the Veteran's COPD.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Obtain an addendum medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's COPD has been least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected Hodgkin's Lymphoma, to include by any chemotherapy-induced pulmonary toxicity.

2. Readjudicate the appeal. 

 

 

V. Chiappetta

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	L. Bristow Williams, 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.