Skin cancer decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of skin cancer of the nose, arthritis of the right knee prior to July 18, 2007, or arthritis of the left knee. The Veteran's hearing loss claim was not addressed as it is pending before the RO.

The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, skin cancer, and thyroid cancer due to radiation exposure are being remanded for further development. The claim for retained metallic fragments in the left hand is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that a service-connected disability contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death, and therefore grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, and skin cancer, as the result of exposure to herbicides are denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for skin cancer, thus denying the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing at the RO before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's malignant melanomas were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and there is no evidence of exposure to ionizing radiation. Service connection for the condition was denied.

The Veteran's skin cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by service, including as a result of exposure to herbicides. Service connection for the condition is denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various cancers, including prostate cancer, bladder cancer, melanoma under the eye, and Merkel cell carcinoma of the left knee. The claims are being remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to sun exposure during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's skin cancer, kidney cancer, and prostate cancer were not present during service or for many years thereafter, and there is no medical evidence of a nexus between any of these disabilities and any incident of service, to include claimed exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board denied service connection for skin disability and low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current skin disorders are not related to his military service or herbicide exposure. The Board also found no evidence of a chronic low back disorder during service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for residuals of malignant neoplasm of the larynx. The Veteran's cancer of the larynx is not considered incurred in or aggravated by military service, nor are his other conditions (hypertension, skin cancer) attributable to service. Service connection was denied for PTSD and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining records of treatment since May 2006.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer and found that no new and material evidence had been received to reopen his claim for chloracne due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the cause of the Veteran's death was not due to a disability incurred or aggravated by active service, nor is it due to a disability that may be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated therein. The appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of service connection for skin cancer cannot be reopened as no new and material evidence has been submitted.

The Board found that the Veteran's PCT is causally related to herbicide exposure during military service, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for deterioration of tissue surrounding bone joints including bilateral shoulders, hips, elbows and knees. The remaining issues are related to secondary service connection based on in-service exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these actions.