Skin cancer decisions — 2001

The veteran's claims for service connection for various disorders, including a skin disorder and those of the left hip, lower legs, ankles, and feet, are denied. The claim for increased ratings is also denied.

The veteran's skin cancer claim is pending. The left breast scar and right hand disability claims have been denied.,The veteran's service-connected left breast scar has a current rating of 0%.

The Board has granted service connection for skin cancer and increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's skin cancer claim is presumed due to in-service trauma, while his hearing loss claim remains at a noncompensable (zero percent) disability rating.

The claim for service connection for the cause of death has been reopened due to new evidence, but the veteran's terminal cancer is not considered service-connected. Dependents' Educational Assistance eligibility remains denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a change in the law and the need for additional development of his claims.

The veteran's right foot condition is rated as 10 percent for plantar warts. Service connection was denied for asbestosis and skin cancer.

The Board finds that the veteran's squamous cell skin cancers and cataracts are not etiologically related to his exposure to ionizing radiation in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for skin cancer and prostate cancer, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions. The claim for PTSD was also denied as the preponderance of the evidence showed that the veteran did not have PTSD.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for postoperative small bowel ischemic thrombosis with necrosis and granted a 40% evaluation for neurogenic bladder.

The VA denied an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for ciliochoroidal malignant melanoma of the right eye, status post gold implant.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder and skin cancer are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records. The Board will consider whether service connection can be established based on in-service trauma or sun exposure.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to metastatic melanoma, finding that there was no evidence linking the condition to service or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board found that the veteran's malignant melanoma with metastasis to the liver and lung did not contribute substantially or materially to cause his death, as there was no evidence linking it to service or a service-connected disability.