Skin cancer decisions — 2016

The Board found that the Veteran's skin cancer did not have its onset in active service and is not otherwise related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer and skin cancer are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining dose data from the Department of Defense regarding his exposure during Operation Redwing. His hearing loss claim is also being remanded for an updated VA examination.

The Veteran's skin cancer and actinic keratosis, including associated scarring, have affected more than 40 percent of the entire body. The Board has granted a disability rating of 60 percent for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, asthma, skin cancer of the head, back, and face, knot on left shin, and Meniere's disease and/or vertigo (secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss and/or tinnitus).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a testicular disorder that resulted in a right orchiectomy was denied. The Board found no evidence of an in-service injury or event and no evidence that the removal of the Veteran's testicle is related to service. For his skin cancer and COPD claims, VA will schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine if they are related to exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the hand, melanoma of the head, and acute myeloid leukemia are not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, bladder cancer, and skin cancer are granted due to presumed exposure to radiation during military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and failure to issue a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's skin conditions, including melanoma and basal cell/squamous cell carcinoma, are being remanded for further development due to the need for a supplemental opinion addressing new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for residual scars associated with skin cancer. The heart disorder issue remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation during the period from March 2007 through October 2008.

The Veteran requested to terminate his appeals for increased ratings and TDIU, effective upon receipt of the withdrawal request in June 2016.

The Veteran's service connection claim for basal cell skin carcinoma and melanoma was denied as there is no evidence of a link between his current conditions and his military service, including presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective June 16, 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left eye removal due to malignant melanoma, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by his in-service exposure to mustard gas.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for skin cancer has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and skin cancer are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability, depressive disorder, joint pain in shoulders, left hip, and left knee, melanoma, basal cell carcinoma or nevus, and toe joint disorders. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen the previously denied claim for right hip disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer had its onset during his period of service, including due to exposure to herbicides. Therefore, service connection for skin cancer is granted.

The Veteran's skin cancer and its associated residuals, including dental issues, are not rated as compensable or separately for the period under consideration.