Skin cancer decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a hearing. The case will be returned to the RO in New York, New York after the scheduled hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer is related to his in-service sun exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer on hands and arthritis, bilateral hands were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran seeks service connection for skin cancer, which he claims is related to his active duty service. The RO/AMC has determined that the Veteran's service was not in or near the Korean DMZ and therefore cannot be presumed due to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act. However, the case must be remanded for further development regarding potential exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, colon cancer and a right leg melanoma, were not incurred or aggravated during active service. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied in December 2001. The Board has now granted the claim on the basis of new and material evidence, but the other issues remain denied.

The Veteran's residuals of malignant melanoma of the back and right axilla are manifested by two painful scars, with the scar on the back being deep and non-linear covering an area of approximately 25 square centimeters. The right axillary scar is linear but not painful. As such, a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied service connection for right wrist disability, bilateral toenail fungus (claimed as secondary to diabetes), and malignant melanoma and basal cell carcinoma on the face (claimed as due to herbicide exposure). The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, left wrist disability, and fracture of the mandible were also addressed but are not discussed in this decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's skin cancer is not related to his service, specifically noting that it did not manifest in service and was first diagnosed many years after separation. The medical opinions provided by VA and VHA supported this conclusion.

The Board has granted service connection for actinic keratosis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms of actinic keratosis were chronic in service and continuous after service. The Board denied service connection for skin cancer as there is no evidence to support a current diagnosis or a link between the claimed condition and service.

The Veteran's skin cancer, to include residuals, was incurred in active service and granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer is not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides and sun. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for skin cancer, including based on exposure to ionizing radiation. The preponderance of evidence is against a nexus between the Veteran's skin cancer and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, skin cancer, and skin rashes due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,There is no current diagnosis or evidence of skin cancer at any time during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the Veteran's skin cancer and hepatitis.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a skin disability, including skin cancer and basal cell carcinoma, is denied as there is no credible evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy, were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of service connection based on exposure to Agent Orange or other presumptive conditions.

The Veteran was granted service connection for prostate cancer, lymphoma, and Parkinson's disease as secondary to his military service. The claim for skin cancer was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or exposure to benzene.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for actinic keratosis (claimed as skin cancer) was granted, and an effective date of October 10, 2002 was assigned. The earlier effective date for CAD was also granted.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including neurological disabilities of the extremities, vertigo, spontaneous fevers and chills, sleep apnea, hypertension, headaches, skin rash condition, and malignant melanoma, were denied as there is no competent medical or credible lay evidence to support these claims. The appeal does not involve service connection.