Skin cancer decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease associated with PTSD with dementia is rated at 100 percent effective October 11, 2012. His PTSD is also rated at 100 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bladder, prostate, and skin cancer due to ionizing radiation exposure. The case must be referred to the VA Under Secretary for Health for a dose estimate based on his service as an X-ray technician from February 1944 to April 1946.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that a higher initial rating for this disability is not warranted. The Veteran does not have any other conditions related to cold exposure, and his arthritis of the hands, knees, skin cancer, hypertension, and blood circulation disorder are not related to active service or cold exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the cause of death. The Veteran's malignant melanoma is presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam, but there are questions about whether he had diabetes prior to his death.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was aggravated by active military service and his residuals of skin cancer are as likely as not to have had their onset during his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's metastatic melanoma was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by such service.

The Veteran's skin disabilities are being remanded for further development, including obtaining his military personnel records and VA treatment records. The examiner will provide opinions on the etiology of each diagnosed condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for low back disability and skin cancer.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension and granted service connection for skin cancer. The Veteran's current skin cancer is found to be related to his in-service duties as a welder, which exposed him to ultraviolet light from welding equipment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and conducting a VA examination to determine the etiology of his left eye disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a DRO hearing at the Los Angeles RO. The issues of entitlement to service connection for skin cancer and temporary total disability evaluation are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney cancer, skin cancer, and partial removal of the colon are not related to his military service at Camp Lejeune. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for actinic keratosis, finding that the Veteran's inservice sun exposure was a causative factor in the onset of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer was denied as there is no evidence of chronic skin cancer during or within one year after service, and the current condition is not related to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the cause of death was metastatic melanoma, which is presumed to be related to service exposure to herbicides. The appellant's arguments and medical evidence support this determination.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal for the issues related to scars on the head, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, traumatic brain injury, melanoma and dental condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and special monthly pension due to his failure to provide necessary income verification forms as required by VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at his local RO. The issues are whether he is entitled to service connection for skin cancer of the face and torso, with secondary consideration given to in-service exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's malignant melanoma is not related to his exposure to ionizing radiation during service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.