Skin cancer decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for service connection for melanoma of the face is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder, including melanoma, and residuals of shrapnel wounds to the head and under the left eye. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a left foot disability, skin cancer, and a skin disability manifested by boils are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical opinions on etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining private medical records and arranging for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed skin and respiratory disorders.

The Board has determined that the issues of service connection for hypertension, skin cancer, multi-myeloma cancer, hearing loss, and tinnitus must be remanded due to incomplete development. The Veteran's claims are inextricably intertwined with his claim for hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing a VA eye examination. The issues of right ear hearing loss, PTSD, left ear hearing loss, and increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II will also be addressed in this remand.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis. The Board has granted this claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for actinic keratosis and skin cancer, and thus these claims are denied.

The Veteran's skin disorders are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between his in-service herbicide exposure and any current skin conditions.

The Board found no evidence to support a direct service connection between the Veteran's skin cancer and his military service, including exposure to herbicides or sun. The claim was denied.

The Veteran died of metastatic melanoma, which the VA examiner determined was not related to his active duty service or exposure to herbicides. The Board found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's death to any in-service event or condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss are service-connected, but his bilateral ankle disability, neck pain, skin cancer, and other conditions do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since January 1, 2011.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for thyroid disorder and skin cancer as due to radiation exposure and/or asbestos, finding no credible evidence of in-service exposure to ionizing radiation or asbestos. The Veteran did not have a pre-existing condition that was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his current skin cancer. The representative has also been given an opportunity to submit a statement on the Veteran's behalf.

The Veteran's skin cancer claim is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, specifically exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and sprayed non-herbicide agent chemicals.

The Veteran's tinnitus was related to hazardous noise exposure during his second period of active duty service. His hearing loss and back condition were not related to service, while the claim for residuals of dengue fever is denied due to lack of evidence of residuals at any time during the appeals period. The skin cancer claim remains pending.

The Veteran's skin disability (including both actinic keratosis and skin cancer) is not service-connected as it is not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The Board found that the current actinic keratosis is less likely than not incurred in or caused by service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for skin cancer or a skin disability diagnosed as seborrheic keratosis or cysts with lesions of the arms, abdominal wall, and face has been dismissed due to his withdrawal.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and melanoma, finding that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam or have exposure to herbicides. The conditions were not chronic in service, did not manifest within one year of separation, and are not etiologically related to service.