Skin cancer decisions — 2009

The Veteran's skin cancer was granted service connection as it is related to sun exposure during his military service. However, the residuals of a bump on the head involving status post excision of a dermal acrospiroma of the scalp were denied as there is no credible evidence linking this condition to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin disabilities, left ear hearing loss, left elbow bursitis, bronchitis, and increased ratings for his knee conditions. The appeal was also terminated as to issues of service connection for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, sleep apnea, and TDIU.

The Veteran's skin disability manifested by residuals of malignant melanoma is not due to disease or injury that was incurred in or aggravated by active service; nor may it be presumed to be due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for melanoma of the right eye or carcinoma of the larynx due to claimed exposure to carcinogens, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to the left leg, hearing loss, tinnitus, and skin disorders due to Agent Orange exposure. The claim for a scar of the right arm was also denied.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that the Veteran's panic disorder, diagnosed in 1964, was not related to his military service. The claim for skin cancer was also denied as there is no confirmed link between the Veteran's exposure to smoke bombs during service and his current condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and the provision of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancers are service-connected due to in-service sun exposure, and his left hip disability is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a chronic condition present or diagnosed during service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for residuals of exposure to the sun including skin cancer and actinic keratoses. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues include service connection for hypertension, foot fungus, skin cancer, and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes type II.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a request for a video conference hearing.

The Veteran's skin cancer is related to direct sunlight exposure during military service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence. The Veteran's skin cancers are being evaluated in relation to exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The Veteran died of malignant melanoma, a condition not service-connected. His death is not considered to be due to any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence. The Veteran's skin cancers are being evaluated in relation to exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's skin cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service, active duty for training or inactive duty training, to include due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected skin cancers involving the left neck, left upper arm, and right forearm. The criteria in effect prior to August 30, 2002 did not support a compensable evaluation based on scars or other manifestations of the condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a request for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's skin cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred therein. The criteria for the assignment of a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability have not been met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer, melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy, and skin disorders, all claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his active service or to herbicide exposure.