Skin cancer decisions — 2010

The Veteran's skin cancer is not service-connected due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, and his claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's skin cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by active military service. Service connection for the condition is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed right eye cataracts, left eye cataracts, squamous cell carcinoma of the right shoulder, and basal cell carcinoma above the left lip are not related to his service or exposure to ionizing radiation.,There is no evidence linking any of these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have significant residual symptoms from Bell's palsy, and his other conditions are not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and mycosis fungoides (claimed as skin cancer) due to lack of evidence supporting the diagnoses or a link between the conditions and service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin cancer and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Board found no evidence linking the skin cancer to service, including exposure to herbicides, and determined that the Veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer, including melanoma, is a result of prolonged sun exposure during his military service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining clarifying opinions from an oncologist regarding service connection for melanoma and metastatic cancer of the lymph node, and a VA examination to determine if any bilateral knee disability is related to service or secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the appellant's skin cancer is related to his prolonged and unprotected sun exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for skin cancer.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current skin disorders, cardiovascular disorder, and hypertension. This includes obtaining a VA examination for skin cancer, requesting radiation dose estimates from DTRA, and referring the case to Under Secretary for Benefits.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to the need for additional records and a VA examination. The issues are about entitlement to increased rating for skin cancer residuals and service connection for lymphangioma circumscriptum, with the latter potentially related to exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Veteran's GERD and skin cancer are found to have onset in service, warranting service connection. The lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are not found to be related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer as a result of exposure to herbicides, but denied service connection for skin cancer.

The Board found that the Veteran's skin cancer is not related to his in-service exposure to ionizing radiation and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (sensorineural hearing loss, right total knee arthroplasty, and skin cancer) are found to render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for melanoma and short-term memory loss are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's skin cancer and the residuals of an injury to his right hand knuckle are not service connected. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's skin cancer was not present during service and is not presumed to have been caused by exposure to ionizing radiation. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current skin cancer is related to his military service.

The Veteran's skin cancer is currently rated at 10 percent, but the RO needs to reassess his condition due to it affecting multiple areas of his body. A new VA examination is required to determine the current severity and extent of his service-connected skin cancer.