Skin cancer decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The effective date of this grant is April 20, 2010, but not earlier.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted for tinnitus, prostate cancer, skin cancer, respiratory impairment (emphysema), heart disability (coronary artery disease), hypertension, or systemic arthritis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for skin cancer. The Veteran's skin cancer is related to in-service sun exposure, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities is not related to his service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for this condition is therefore denied.,Service connection for skin cancer cannot be established as there was no evidence provided in support of a link between the condition and service.

The Veteran's skin cancer of the ear was not manifested in service or within a year following his discharge from active duty, and the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that it is related to his service.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder with depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of decision. The Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer with impotence are rated at 40 percent, effective from August 25, 2015.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for malignant melanoma. The Veteran's current diagnosis of malignant melanoma is causally related to his military service, including exposure to sunlight during deployments.

The Veteran's skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma, is being remanded for additional development to determine if it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of melanoma is granted as the Board finds that his melanoma was at least as likely as not due to sun exposure during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease, skin cancer, and prostate cancer are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has reopened the claims for loss of use of the left arm, skin cancer, HTN, and spina bifida occulta due to new evidence submitted. However, service connection remains denied as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Court held that evidence added to the record since the May 2005 rating decision, denying service connection for PTSD, is new and material, and the claim for service connection is reopened. However, the criteria for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, sleep apnea, liver disorder, diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the upper extremities, diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, and skin cancer have not been met.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding treatment records and a need for a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's skin cancer.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer, increased rating for spondyloarthropathy with IVDS prior to February 23, 2016, and increased rating for chondromalacia and arthritis of the right knee since February 23, 2016 were denied. The Veteran's claim for an increase in rating for bilateral hearing loss on an extra-schedular basis was not addressed as it is a separate matter.

The Veteran's current skin disorders, including dermatitis contact, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and scars, are found to be causally related to his military service. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and skin cancer, finding no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or asbestos during service. The cancers were not shown to be related to service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's skin cancer and keratosis are etiologically related to service due to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and thus granted his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death due to melanoma and pleural based lung metastases, finding that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's service-connected conditions to his death.

The Board found that the evidence received since the final denial of service connection for melanoma in July 2006 is not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the claim.