Citation Nr: 22051119
Decision Date: 09/08/22	Archive Date: 09/08/22

DOCKET NO. 15-02 792
DATE: September 8, 2022

REMANDED

The claim of entitlement to service connection for a skin disability, to include chloracne, is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from June 1970 to July 1977.

This appeal is from a March 2016 rating decision.

In March 2022, the Board last remanded this claim for additional development that was not substantially completed.  Corrective action must be taken in order to preserve the Veteran's due process rights.

1. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a skin disability, to include chloracne, is remanded.

The Veteran reports having recurrent skin lesions on his face and scalp.  The Board's March 2022 remand indicated that an attempt shall be made to schedule the Veteran a VA examination during one of his skin flare-ups of these lesions.  The record does not show that an attempt was made to accommodate this request, or an explanation for why it could not be done.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Obtain updated VA treatment records.

2. After completion of directive 1, schedule the Veteran for an appropriate examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's skin disability, which he reports consists of recurrent lesions on the face and scalp that itch and recur on a monthly basis.  An effort should be made to schedule the updated examination during a flare of the claimed condition, to the extent possible, which should be documented for the file.

The examiner is asked to review the claims file and to elicit from the Veteran a detailed report of his symptoms generally and during flares.  All testing deemed necessary must be conducted.  The examiner must opine on the following: does the Veteran have, or did he have at any point throughout the appellate period a skin disability of the face and scalp other than that already service connected?  Service connection is currently in effect for tinea pedis, tinea cruris, and candidiasis.  

If there is an additional skin disability of the face and scalp, it is approximately as likely as not that such skin disability is etiologically related, in whole or in part, to the Veteran's active service, to include conceded herbicide agent exposure?  In rendering this opinion, the examiner is asked to address the following records: (i) VA examinations dated March 2016, September 2019, March 2021, and May 2022; (ii) NEDOC medical treatment records received by VA in May 2013 (noting herpes zoster in 1996 and itching and possible eczema in 2007).

All opinions must be supported with explanation.

 

 

Nathaniel J. Doan

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	A. Gibson

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.