Citation Nr: 22018561
Decision Date: 03/29/22	Archive Date: 03/29/22

DOCKET NO. 16-16 118
DATE: March 29, 2022

REMANDED

Service connection for prostate cancer is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran had active-duty service from October 1967 to October 1970.

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) from a January 2013 rating decision issued by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).

1. Service connection for prostate cancer is remanded.

Upon review of the record, the Board notes that in attempting to verify herbicide exposure, the Defense Personnel Records Informational Retrieval System (DPRIS) response indicated additional sources of information concerning possible exposure. See January 2013 VA 21-3101. The record does not indicate that these additional sources of information, namely the U.S. Army Medical Research, Institute of Chemical Defense, and the U.S. Army Medical Department, Office of the Surgeon General, were ever consulted with in adjudicating the Veteran's initial claim for service connection. The Veteran also provided additional details regarding his alleged exposure to herbicides in submitting his February 2013 notice of disagreement (NOD). As such, the Board finds that an additional attempt should be made to verify the same, relative to the aforesaid sources of information and Veteran provided details regarding his alleged exposure. 

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

Make a second attempt to verify the Veteran's asserted in-service exposure to herbicide agents.  If more details are needed, contact the Veteran to request the information. 

Attention is directed to the Veteran's statements of record concerning evidence of possible exposure, as well as the January 2013 DPRIS response indicating additional sources of information to be consulted with, namely the U.S. Army Medical Research, Institute of Chemical Defense, and the U.S. Army Medical Department, Office of the Surgeon General. See VBMS, document titled "NOD," receipt dated February 21, 2013; VBMS, document titled "VA 21-3101 Request for Information," receipt dated January 22, 2013; VBMS, document titled "Correspondence," receipt dated November 18, 2010. 

 

 

Bethany L. Buck

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.