Skin cancer decisions — 2007

The Board denied service connection for residuals of pneumonia and skin cancer. Service connection was not granted for residuals of pneumonia due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service, including inservice pneumonia. Service connection was also not granted for skin cancer as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking it to service.

The veteran's claimed conditions are not shown to be related to his military service or Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records and further review.

The Board has determined that the veteran's malignant melanoma is not related to his service, including any potential herbicide exposure in Vietnam. As a result, the claim for service connection for malignant melanoma is denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted. The claim for skin cancer was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability remains unchanged.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an anxiety disorder or melanoma, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to service. The claim for tinnitus was remanded due to procedural issues.

The veteran seeks service connection for a condition that resulted in an amputation, including exposure to ionizing radiation. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding potential exposure and dose estimates.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection for various conditions, including bilateral weak feet, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, asthma, seborrheic keratosis (now claimed as skin cancer), emphysema, and keratitis with clouded vision. The appeals were not successful due to lack of evidence supporting the veteran's claims.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development and adjudication of his claims based on exposure to ionizing radiation, sunlight without sun block, presumptive service connection within one year after discharge, and direct service connection due to sunlight exposure. The RO must also address the issue of service connection based upon exposure to ionizing radiation in Japan.

The veteran's claim for PTSD is granted, but the claim regarding his melanoma of the ear related to Agent Orange exposure remains pending. The Board found new and material evidence in the case.

The veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence linking his melanoma to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, and tumors or skin cancer. The denial is based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's skin cancer is being remanded for additional development, including a medical examination to determine its etiology and whether it is related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claims of service connection for PTSD and skin cancer, finding that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.

The veteran's claims have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right upper arm scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, as it is not tender or uncomfortable and does not limit motion.

The Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection due to exposure to ionizing radiation and thus denied both claims.

The veteran's skin cancer and other unspecified dermatological conditions were not shown to be related to his active service, including Agent Orange exposure. His claims for hearing loss, COPD, heart disease, and tinnitus are denied as well.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including skin cancer, sterility, flat feet, peripheral neuropathy and gout, and hypertension. The appeals were based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The veteran's service connection claim for malignant melanoma is granted, as the Board finds that his current condition is of service origin.