Skin cancer decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic lymphocytic leukemia, prostate cancer, and skin cancer are related to his service exposure to benzene. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's skin cancer was not found to be related to his military service, including presumed exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange). The claim for direct service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's melanoma is related to his service, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam or excessive sun exposure during active duty. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the primary choroidal melanoma of the left eye, status post removal of the left eye is etiologically related to active service and granted service connection. However, cervical spine DDD was not related to military service. For lumbar DDD, prior to December 31, 2013, a noncompensable rating was assigned; from December 31, 2013, the disability warranted a 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer of the face and torso, as secondary to in-service exposure to herbicides. The case will be remanded for a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for basal cell carcinomas, claimed as melanoma, is denied. The Board found no evidence linking the condition to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a lost tooth due to trauma, melanoma, and shoulder disabilities. The decision also found that new evidence did not reopen his claim of service connection for loss of a tooth due to trauma.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed due to in-service herbicide exposure. The claim for skin cancer was not addressed as it may not be a presumptive association.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for skin cancer, including as secondary to his service-connected chronic tinea type rash, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and an addendum opinion from a dermatologist.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the nature, extent, and etiology of the Veteran's skin disability. The issue remains pending.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for his scars and disfigurements have been granted, with the highest rating of 30 percent assigned for the residual scars. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and skin cancer, as well as his claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board granted service connection for CAD with atherosclerotic heart disease and assigned a 60 percent rating effective March 7, 2016. The Veteran's current level of disability is characterized by a workload of greater than 3 METs but less than 5 resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness or syncope.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current thyroid disability is not related to his service, including exposure to herbicides. The claim for skin cancer residuals was also denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of malignant melanoma, diagnosed as a scar, are related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's melanoma of the left eye retina is found to be directly related to radiation exposure during service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, and he has multiple skin disorders including actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. His hemochromatosis is not service-connected.

The Board has determined that service connection for melanoma of the right lower extremity is granted, as it is at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's skin cancer and kidney disability were not shown to be related to his military service or herbicide exposure.,Both conditions are currently diagnosed, but the evidence does not support a finding that they are directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to a period of service and the claim for service connection has been granted.