Skin cancer decisions — 2000

The veteran's claim of service connection for malignant melanoma, left leg is being remanded due to the need for a dose assessment from the Department of Defense regarding alleged radiation exposure during Operation REDWING.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including right orchiectomy, ruptured tympanic membrane, skin cancer, colon cancer, and COPD. The preexisting conditions were not aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for skin cancer, finding that the evidence submitted since the previous denial was not new and material.

The Board's decision denying service connection for skin cancer in June 1991 is dismissed due to the withdrawal of a motion seeking CUE review.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, skin cancer, and tinnitus are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and personnel information. The Board will also consider the well-groundedness of each claim.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, and non-service-connected death pension benefits due to lack of evidence showing that the veteran's malignant melanoma was caused by his service-connected conditions.

The veteran's skin cancer is not related to his service, and the claim for secondary service connection due to herbicide exposure is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for actinic keratoses and skin cancer due to exposure to ionizing radiation, finding that there was no evidence of such exposure.

The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected residuals of frostbite of both feet was granted, and he is currently rated at 30 percent. The claim for secondary skin cancer to the service-connected condition was also granted.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability and denied his claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for kidney cancer, skin cancer, and a back disorder. The heart disorder claim is also denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking it to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding the veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation and a need for further medical opinion on direct service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, diagnosed as seborrheic keratosis and/or skin cancer, due to mustard gas exposure. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service incurrence or a link between the current condition and mustard gas exposure.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder. The appellant's claim for accrued benefits related to skin cancer is also granted.

The veteran's conjunctivitis and PTSD are service-connected, while his skin cancer claim is denied. The veteran receives a 50% rating for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite, diabetes mellitus, skin cancer, angina, fungus on the toes, numbness of the feet, cellulitis of the legs, and osteomyelitis are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer is denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking the condition to an incident of service, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for PTSD and skin cancer/actinic keratoses, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The appeals were not granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for malaria, a respiratory disorder due to asbestos exposure, skin cancer due to asbestos exposure, and residuals of a fracture of the left hand. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was not reopened as new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for skin cancer due to exposure to ionizing radiation, finding that his skin cancers were not caused by his in-service exposure and were first manifested more than five years after his separation from service.