Skin cancer decisions — 2012

The Veteran's skin rash and cancer were not found to be related to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and skin cancer due to alleged exposure to ionizing radiation in service. The RO/AMC is instructed to verify the Veteran's claimed exposures, obtain a VA examination, and provide an opinion on the relationship between his conditions and service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not present during service or for many years thereafter and has not been shown to be related to service, including an in-service exposure. The claim for skin cancer is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's skin cancer may be related to ionizing radiation exposure, but further evidence and analysis are needed as the military records do not clearly establish his presence at the Nevada Test Site during Operation Plumbbob.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for multicystic renal cell carcinoma and a skin disorder, including melanoma, are being remanded as the Board finds there is a need to obtain additional medical records and provide the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial of service connection for burning feet has been withdrawn. The hypertension and skin cancer claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed liver disability and residuals of melanoma. The Veteran is advised to report for any scheduled examinations.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and ensuring all relevant evidence is considered.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of melanoma is granted as the evidence supports a finding that his current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for malignant melanoma of the left hip and determined that it was incurred in service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus could not establish presumptive exposure to herbicides. The skin cancer was not associated with herbicide exposure, and there is no evidence of diabetes mellitus being related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's service connection claim for malignant squamous skin cancer was denied because there is no medical evidence of a nexus between his current disability and service, to include alleged cold exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for skin disorder, thyroid cancer, bone cancer, and lymph node cancer as secondary to herbicide exposure and radiation treatment for his service-connected prostate cancer. The evidence did not establish current diagnoses or a causal link between these conditions and service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to metastatic melanoma, finding no evidence that it was related to service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's case for additional development to obtain VA treatment records and private medical records. The appeal is currently in a pending state.

The Board found that the appellant's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his active service, and no presumptive exposure to herbicides is applicable. The claims for COPD, liver disability, skin cancer, and bladder and kidney disability are all denied.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 70 percent for PTSD, effective from the date of the grant of service connection. The Veteran's PTSD is currently productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's skin cancer is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his military service, specifically exposure to Agent Orange. The RO will also obtain any relevant treatment records and provide the Veteran with an opportunity to submit additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's death was caused by metastatic melanoma, which is presumed to have developed due to prolonged exposure to sunlight during his Navy service.,Service connection for COPD has been denied as the disorder did not develop in-service and there is no evidence of a nexus between the disorder and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of skin cancer was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a link between his in-service milia rashes and his current skin cancer, and thus he could not establish service connection.