Skin cancer decisions — 2008

The Board denied service connection for residuals of excised melanoma and psoriasis due to presumed Agent Orange exposure, but did not address the claim for bone spurs of the bilateral feet. The veteran's low back disability was granted an increased rating.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the veteran's claims, including obtaining his complete personnel file and verifying any claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining a dose estimate for the veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation during service. The AOJ must also provide proper notice of the type of evidence needed to establish an effective date or disability rating if service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple skin cancers, congestive heart failure as secondary to the veteran's service-connected thoracic aortic aneurysm, and hypertension as secondary to his service-connected thoracic aortic aneurysm. The claims for these conditions are all considered granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of malignant melanoma metastatic to the brain and seizure disorder as secondary to malignant melanoma have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and tinnitus, finding no evidence to support a direct relationship with his military service or any presumptive conditions.

The veteran's skin cancer is found to have been incurred during service, and he meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further medical examinations to determine the etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, skin cancer, and shrapnel injuries. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for metastasis of melanoma to the brain and right lung, as well as a determination of total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The case must be remanded for additional development including obtaining medical records, scheduling examinations, and readjudicating the claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for post-concussion syndrome, an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depression), asthma, hypertension, and skin cancer. The Board found that there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the veteran's skin cancer was not caused by or incurred during active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a disability incurred in or aggravated by his active-duty service, including exposure to herbicides and sun exposure. The cause of death listed on the death certificate was respiratory arrest due to acute on chronic renal failure due to malignant ascites due to malignant melanoma.

The veteran's kidney failure, now status post transplant, is found to have been incurred during service.,There is no evidence that the veteran's skin cancer was caused by herbicide exposure or any other incident of service.

The veteran's skin disability, including squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to exposure to Agent Orange or DEET during service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, COPD, and skin cancer. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The veteran's skin conditions, including squamous cell carcinoma and cysts, were not shown to be related to service or herbicide exposure. The lung disability and hearing loss disabilities are also denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of asbestos exposure, and his breathing disorder, irregular heart beat, and skin cancer are not shown to be related to service or any presumptive conditions due to herbicide exposure. His left testicular tumor and liver tumor are also not shown to be related to service or any presumptive conditions. The veteran's PTSD is rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's hypothyroidism, melanoma, and squamous cell carcinoma as due to exposure to ionizing radiation in service. The claims for seborrheic keratosis and tenesmus, loose stool, colitis, and radiation proctitis have been denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for malignant melanoma, including as a result of exposure to Agent Orange and ionizing radiation due to lack of evidence of actual diagnosis.

The veteran does not have a psychiatric condition, including PTSD, or a skin disorder, including skin cancer, that is related to his military service.