Skin cancer decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's death was related to his military service, specifically in-service chemical exposure and sun exposure during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied service connection for skin cancer, finding that the new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of frostbite of the ears. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the December 2013 decision, including incomplete VA examination reports and insufficient rationale for findings. The Veteran is to be provided additional VA examinations concerning his claims of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a skin disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate disability and skin cancer, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active service. The other issues remain pending and will be addressed in a separate decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for status-post excision of melanoma of middle-to-lower back was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. However, his claim for service connection for coronary artery disease with angina is granted based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange during active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer was previously denied and new evidence did not reopen the claim. The Board found that his bilateral hearing loss warrants a 10 percent rating, PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating, and he is entitled to TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of her claims, including a potential claim for a higher evaluation for chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, gastrointestinal disability, skin cancer, and PTSD are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran's melanoma is likely related to significant sun exposure during service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain service treatment records and determine the relationship between his current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of removal of melanoma is denied as there is no competent evidence showing the condition was incurred in or aggravated by service.,There is also no competent evidence showing that the Veteran had right ear infections during his first period of service, and thus service connection for status post right ear infections cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and a supplemental VA medical opinion regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The claim for skin cancer based on herbicide exposure remains pending as there is no evidence of a direct association.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his malignant melanoma, which is presumed to be related to his exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer is causally related to sun exposure during his periods of active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's skin cancer is considered to be a result of sun exposure during his 20-year active service, particularly while performing duties as a heavy equipment operator. The Board has granted service connection for the condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from a VA physician regarding whether the Veteran's colon cancer and skin cancer are at least as likely as not related to herbicide exposure during service.