Skin cancer decisions — 2000

The Board found that the appellant's claims for service connection for lung disease and skin cancer were not well-grounded due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's skin cancer was not incurred or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and high blood pressure as not well-grounded. The evidence did not link these conditions to an incident of service or a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the veteran's current level of disability does not warrant a higher evaluation, as there is no objective evidence of functional limitation and only complaints of itching and tenderness at the scar region.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking metastatic melanoma, which caused his death, to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the cause of death was not service-connected and denied both the claim for service connection for the cause of death and the eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired skin disorder, including skin cancer, secondary to radiation exposure is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision found no current manifestation of a skin disability, and thus the claim was not well grounded. For the psychiatric disorder claim, the RO considered whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim based on the Colvin test, which was invalidated by Hodge v. West.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and malignant melanoma, as due to exposure to ionizing radiation, are not well-grounded. As a result, these claims must be denied.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for skin cancer as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran prior to any decision being made.

The Board found that the veteran's colon cancer and skin cancer are not causally related to any in-service radiation exposure, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's multiple skin cancers and sarcoma of the right groin are not service-connected, as they were not caused by exposure to ionizing radiation during his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a malignant melanoma is plausible and grants the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for skin cancer and a thyroid condition, both claimed as secondary to exposure to ionizing radiation in service.

The Board denied service connection for lung disorder, facial burns, posterior subcapsular cataracts, and skin cancer due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's skin cancer, finding that new and material evidence supports reopening of this claim.

The Board found that the appellant's claims for service connection were not well-grounded, as there was no medical evidence linking his claimed conditions to service or any inservice exposure. The claim for cold injury residuals and back problems is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and kidney disorder were not incurred in service, and his skin cancer claim was not well-grounded due to lack of evidence linking it to radiation exposure during service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for metastatic small cell carcinoma, basal cell cancer, and squamous cell skin cancer in situ as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation. The cancers were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's fatal melanoma, which caused his death, was likely due to excessive sun exposure during his military service. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is granted.