Skin cancer decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, chloracne of the back, and skin cancers of the ears due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The effective date is set at the day following the Veteran's separation from active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, skin cancer, and PVD. The claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence and the need for additional development regarding his exposure to chemicals in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's melanoma and basal cell carcinoma are attributable to sunburns and herbicide exposure during active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current skin disorder, diagnosed as melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers and actinic keratoses, had its onset during active military service. Therefore, the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was not due to service-connected conditions, and thus denied service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's DMII, IHD, and prostate cancer are found to be etiologically related to service. The residuals of skin cancer is not addressed as it pertains to a different issue.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's skin cancer and other skin disorders are causally related to his military service, specifically exposure to sunlight during service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and obtaining dose data from the Department of Defense regarding his radiation exposure in service. The skin cancer claim will also be developed further.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for prostate cancer and skin cancer, but denied both claims as there is no evidence that the Veteran's cancers are related to his in-service exposure to radiation.

The Veteran's skin cancer is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its relationship to his service, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board found that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the February 1970 rating decision assigning a 10 percent initial rating for the Veteran's service-connected skin cancer and other conditions. The Veteran's skin cancer is not presumed to be related to herbicide exposure, and his neuritis of the left ulnar nerve does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain missing service treatment records and VA examination opinions regarding his stomach disability, skin cancer, coronary artery disease, right shoulder disability, and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current lower back disability, skin cancer residuals, or gastrointestinal disorder/Barrett's esophagus that is related to his period of service.,Service connection for these conditions cannot be established as there is no evidence of disease or injury during service and no medical opinion linking any current condition to service.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetic nephropathy have not been shown to warrant a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.,The Veteran's malignant melanoma is presumed to be due to his in-service herbicide exposure, but there is no evidence of record showing that it was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for actinic keratosis and scar of the upper back, residual of excised melanoma with history of numbness have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin disabilities, including skin cancer, psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis, were not incurred or aggravated by active service and are not disabilities presumed to be related to exposure to herbicides. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's exposure to radiation during service and its impact on his claimed conditions. The claim will be reviewed after obtaining additional records and a dose estimate if necessary.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of skin cancer, OSA, and periodic leg movement disorder (claimed as right leg condition), finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and status post total left knee replacement were denied due to lack of a nexus between service and current disability. The claim for IHD was not addressed as it is not part of the appeal.