Skin cancer decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer is secondary to in-service radiation exposure and granted service connection.,The Board has also determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was initially manifested during service and granted service connection.

The Veteran's skin cancer was not diagnosed during service or within a year of separation, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is not rated higher than noncompensable. The Veteran's skin cancer of the right shoulder and face, to include the nose, has been found not related to service.

The Veteran died of metastatic melanoma. The VA medical opinion found that his service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus did not contribute to or cause the death.

The Veteran's death is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination. The lung disability issue is also being remanded due to its potential impact on the cause of death claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer, including its residual facial scars, is causally related to his military service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's death was not due to any disability entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, and the Board finds that there is no evidence of VA fault in diagnosing and treating his fatal metastatic malignant melanoma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current sinusitis and there is no evidence of a diagnosed skin cancer. The claim for service connection for both conditions is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating. The effective date for this rating is October 29, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bipolar disorder contributed substantially and materially to his death, which was caused by metastatic melanoma. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's left eye melanoma is found to be the result of his conceded herbicide exposure during service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran wishes to withdraw his claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The claims of service connection for sinusitis, migraine headaches, acquired psychiatric disability (to include major depressive disorder), and skin cancer have been denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected condition. The TDIU claim has also been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from a December 2014 examiner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer is related to sun exposure during active duty service and grants service connection for this condition. The claim for hypertension remains pending as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's chronic lymphocytic leukemia and skin cancer were not found to be related to his service at Camp Lejeune.,Service connection was denied for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to his active service, including exposure to herbicides. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of records from the Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess his PTSD disability, and providing an opinion regarding the etiology of any skin cancer found. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Board found that the Veteran's skin cancer was not shown to be causally or etiologically related to an in-service event, injury or disease, and is not shown to be medically associated with herbicide exposure. Therefore, service connection for skin cancer was denied.

The Veteran's skin cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma, was not shown to be related to service or herbicide exposure and is therefore denied.