Skin cancer decisions — 2009

The veteran withdrew his appeal as to the issue of new and material evidence to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a skin condition, to include wart of the right arm and skin cancer on the ears.

The Board granted service connection for skin cancer of the head and neck, finding it to be etiologically related to in-service exposure to carbon tetrachloride. The issue of entitlement to service connection for tongue cancer is remanded for further development.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence related to the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to malignant melanoma, as there was no evidence linking the condition to in-service sun exposure or any other aspect of military service.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and skin cancer as new and material evidence was not received.

The Veteran does not have PTSD, skin cancer or a chronic skin disease, and/or a pulmonary disability.

The appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and adjudication of the service connection claims.

The veteran's depression is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected melanoma, but the claims for a large mass of the groin area and increased ratings for residuals of a donor site scar of the right hip and melanoma were denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 60 percent rating for his service-connected psoriasis with secondary skin cancer due to PUVA treatment was denied as there is no evidence that an increase in disability had occurred prior to May 18, 2006.

The Board denied service connection for renal cancer, skin cancer, and a liver disorder as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, skin cancer, epilepsy, sleep apnea, cataracts, and partial blindness as these conditions were not shown to be related to the Veteran's period of active duty or any claimed in-service exposure.

The Board denied service connection for lung disability and skin cancer, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or a link between the conditions and military service.

The Veteran's skin cancer is service-connected as it was etiologically related to his exposure to herbicides during active military service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's skin cancer was incurred in service based on the medical evidence and testimony that it is attributable to excessive sun exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's melanoma and basal cell skin cancer are related to his service, including exposure to Agent Orange during service in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, skin cancer, and a lung disorder as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service exposure to Agent Orange or asbestos.

The appeal is remanded to obtain additional evidence regarding the Veteran's service in Vietnam and to determine if his metastatic melanoma of the adrenal gland may be related to herbicide exposure.

The appeal was remanded for additional development, specifically to obtain a revised report from the Under Secretary of Health considering BEIR VII.

The Board determined that the severance of service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, residuals of prostate cancer, status post phlebitis with chronic venous insufficiency of the left leg, and fibrosis of the skin of the left neck was improper. The claims for service connection for colon cancer and skin cancer were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer, to include as due to exposure to Agent Orange, as there was no evidence of in-country service in Vietnam and no competent medical evidence linking the condition to service.