Skin cancer decisions — 2004

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for a skin disorder including squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. The veteran's hearing loss is presumed to be due to noise exposure during active duty service. However, there is no credible evidence linking the skin disorders to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have nicotine dependence, hypertension, or skin cancer that is attributable to his military service. The VA examiner determined that these conditions are more likely due to post-service tobacco use and smoking habits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, skin cancer, and a psychiatric disability (PTSD). The veteran does not have migraine headaches. For skin cancer, there is no evidence of current disability or previous removal. For PTSD, the veteran has depression but no diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, to include traumatic geniculate neuroma, and granted service connection based on direct evidence of an in-service injury. The veteran's current right knee disorder is found to be related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current skin disorder, including skin cancer and basal cell carcinoma, was not incurred in service. The claim is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and skin cancer. The decision also noted that new evidence had been submitted to reopen a claim of service connection for osteoarthritis with disc disease of the dorsocervical spine.

The veteran requested to withdraw his appeal, which the Board accepted.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for superficial spreading malignant melanoma with resultant muscle damage is being remanded to the AOJ for further evaluation, including consideration of impairment in affected muscles.

The veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer of the nose and face, thyroid cancer, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease were denied. The Board found that these conditions did not have their onset during active duty or for many years thereafter, were not disabling to a compensable degree during the first post-service year, and are not etiologically related to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a current skin condition related to service, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's fatal malignant melanoma was related to exposure to Agent Orange during service. The accrued benefits claim is also pending and will be adjudicated at this time.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for diabetes mellitus or skin cancer, and denied the veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death was not related to his period of military service and remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and an increased rating for his left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and notification. The issues of vocational rehabilitation training, service connection for bronchial asthma, disability manifested by dry eyes, skin cancer, hiatal hernia and gastric disability (claimed as stomach ulcer), and an increased rating for left knee disability are pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current skin cancer and actinic keratoses are related to his active duty service, specifically sun exposure during his time in the Pacific Theater.

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

The Board denied service connection for residuals of malignant melanoma of the abdominal wall and osteoarthritis, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.,There is no medical evidence showing a link between the veteran's current osteoarthritis and her military service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed in-service stressor and a need for further development, including an examination.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer, finding that new and material evidence was received to reopen his previous denial. The Board also determined that there is a nexus between the veteran's skin cancer and in-service sun exposure.