Skin cancer decisions — 2001

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for skin disorders, including rash and cancer, as a result of herbicide exposure due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service or to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for skin cancer, determined to be a result of exposure to ionizing radiation in service. The decision is based on direct evidence and does not involve any presumption or secondary conditions.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for skin cancer and respiratory disorder due to herbicide exposure, as well as his requests for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance, and specially adapted housing. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility under VA regulations.

The veteran's unauthorized private medical treatment for a service-connected abdominal melanoma was denied reimbursement by VA because the treatment did not meet the criteria of being in response to an emergency and VA medical care was available.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, prostate disorder due to agent orange exposure, and residuals of a skin disorder including chloracne, skin cancer, and acne. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for skin cancer due to exposure to ionizing radiation remains pending.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for cause of her husband's death as secondary to service-connected residuals of shell fragment wound of the left chest, finding that there was no evidence linking the veteran's malignant melanoma to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board granted an increased evaluation of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected residuals of skin lesions, diagnosed as keratoses and skin cancers. The claim for service connection for a skin disorder of the hands and arms (other than skin cancers and keratoses) was denied.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if the veteran's lung cancer, which caused his death, was a result of exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The veteran's service connection claim for residuals of melanoma is granted due to the presumption that it was incurred in active duty. The claim for actinic keratosis remains pending as no opinion on its etiology has been provided.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD was denied, and his claim for service connection for skin cancer was also denied. The RO found that the veteran did not have a diagnosed condition of skin cancer.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death due to malignant melanoma, which is not related to military service. The Board also dismissed the appellant's claim for Dependents' Educational Assistance as there was no submitted claim.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board found that the veteran's squamous cell skin cancer, heart disease, and diabetes mellitus were not related to his military service or exposure to ionizing radiation. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board finds that the veteran's malignant melanoma, which contributed substantially and materially to his death, was incurred as a result of military service due to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for actinic keratosis, currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The evidence showed that the veteran had subjective complaints of bleeding, lesions, sun sensitivity, and itching, but no more than a 10 percent rating was appropriate based on his current clinical findings.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for nasal disorder, ear disorder, and skin cancer. The RO found that there was no evidence of radiation exposure during service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to a lack of evidence showing that his melanoma spread or metastasized as a result of VA treatment, and they found no negligence on the part of the VA.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's skin cancer and bilateral cataracts were not incurred during service or as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.