Skin cancer decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions, as there are unclear records regarding previous attempts at scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed service-connected due to herbicide exposure. The claims for peripheral neuropathy, skin cancer, hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine their relationship to service or a service-connected disability.,Service connection has been granted for the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for choroidal melanoma of the left eye with resulting visual changes is being remanded due to incomplete records and additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Jamaica Plains VAMC.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer, erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are all granted. However, there is no current diagnosis or residuals of skin cancer, and the Board finds that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction and peripheral neuropathy are related to his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS is related to active duty service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for skin disorder, skin cancer and keratosis. The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development of his claims including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling him for a VA examination.

The Veteran's skin conditions, including seborrheic and actinic keratosis, compound nevus, lentigo, furuncle and burn on the left chest, and basal cell carcinoma, were not shown to be related to service or due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Board denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's cancer to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's malignant melanoma with lymph node involvement was not linked to his service, exposure to herbicides, ionizing radiation or sun exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's death was due to metastatic melanoma, a disability related to his in-service exposure to solar radiation. The Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board found that the Veteran's skin cancer did not have its onset in service, was not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service, and is not related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for skin cancer was denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for BCC of the head, face, and neck prior to May 11, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation and its potential connection to his diagnosed cancers.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, asthma/asbestosis, skin cancer, foot skin disorders, left knee arthritis, traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine, and arthritis of other joints (excluding the left elbow). The reasons provided are that there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or secondary to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's melanoma was not shown to have been incurred in service, and the Board denied service connection. The Veteran's toe nail fungus has been granted service connection as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's metastatic melanoma was granted a 100% rating effective February 1, 2006. The RO proposed reducing the rating to 10%, but this reduction was not upheld as it did not meet the criteria for such action.

The Veteran's skin cancer is related to his active military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's skin disorders, including basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma, actinic keratosis, and seborrheic keratosis, are being remanded for further examination to determine if they were caused by sun exposure during service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for skin cancer.