Skin cancer decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his service personnel records and VA treatment records, as well as requesting information about possible exposure to radiation from the service department offices responsible for maintaining such information.

The Veteran's skin condition and cancer are being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine if they were caused by herbicide exposure during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's skin disorders were not present during his military service or for years thereafter, nor have these conditions been causally or etiologically related to active service, including presumed exposure to herbicides and/or sunlight.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and malignant melanoma of the left eye, status post enucleation were denied. The claim for exposure to malathion and chlordane was not addressed as it is precluded due to lack of specific claimed disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and skin cancer, and granted service connection for PTSD with a rating of 30 percent. The claim for increased rating for PTSD was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's hypertension and skin cancer were not found to be related to his military service or herbicide exposure. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current skin cancer is the result of sun exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The claims for neurofibromatosis, cancer of the jaw, skin cancer, and hearing loss have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer, claimed as due to exposure to herbicides, was denied. The claims for increased PTSD rating and for various scars were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of his psychiatric disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to procedural issues and the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, skin cancer, residuals of a left arm injury, and hypertension. The decision found no credible evidence linking these conditions to service or any in-service events.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to verify his periods of service and determine the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss, right elbow disability, and skin cancer.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include anxiety and depression. However, the evidence does not support granting this reopened claim on the merits. The Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability is not related to active service. There is no competent evidence showing that the Veteran currently experiences a skin cancer due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's malignant melanoma, and the case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's current diagnoses of malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma are etiologically related to his sun and/or herbicide exposure during military service. The Board finds the evidence sufficient to support a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including additional VA examinations and consideration of his service connection claims.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection of melanoma, and the Board has dismissed this issue without prejudice.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, erectile dysfunction, and a skin disorder. The claim for residuals of dental trauma was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disorder and has granted service connection for adjustment disorder. The claims for skin cancer and PTSD remain pending.