Skin cancer decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination and notification regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin cancer, impaired glucose tolerance and/or diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and back injury were all granted. The Veteran was assigned a 100% disability rating for PTSD from November 26, 2007 to January 26, 2009, and a greater than 50% rating thereafter.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and gathering treatment records. The Veteran's claims are not yet decided.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's skin condition, low back disability, and cervical spine disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service. The Veteran was scheduled for VA examinations but did not attend.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial ratings in excess of 10 percent were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's residuals did not meet criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, skin disorders including skin cancer, and left ear deformity due to chemical exposure. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service disease or injury resulting in these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and examination, including obtaining a statement from a medical provider regarding possible Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's claims of service connection for colon cancer and skin cancer are also being reviewed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma, is at least as likely as not related to his 20-year period of active service due to sun exposure. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability (depression), a foot disability, a skin disability, and a post-operative residual scar from excision of melanoma. The Veteran's claims were based on direct evidence rather than any presumption or secondary theory.

The Board denied the claim of entitlement to service connection for skin cancer, finding that there was no evidence linking the condition to service or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer is due to sun exposure during his military service and grants service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for COPD and residuals of a cold injury are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's death and his conditions. The appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of her husband's death due to metastatic melanoma and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for residuals of squamous cell carcinoma including a scar on the right forearm, service connection for basal cell carcinoma on arms and back, and service connection for melanoma were denied. The denial is based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a respiratory condition and bronchitis/pleurisy, were denied as the evidence did not support these claims. The exposure basis was presumed Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran seeks service connection for skin cancer, which he believes is due to his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and a VA opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin disease/skin cancer is related to service exposure, and thus granted service connection for this condition. The right eye cancer with blindness claim remains pending as an additional examination is needed.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to missing evidence from Dr. Patterson and Dr. St. Clair, which is necessary for a full review of the service connection claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder, knee, hip, ankle, and foot disabilities are related to his active service. The skin disability including skin cancer is not presumed or directly linked to his active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examination reports and outstanding private treatment records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension and multiple malignant melanoma, but the evidence does not support a direct relationship with military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain Social Security Administration records and further medical examinations regarding his skin conditions, PTSD, and boils.