Skin cancer decisions — 2017

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a skin disability and melanoma, finding no evidence that these conditions originated during or were otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's fatal melanoma was not related to service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and skin cancer. The decision on left ear hearing loss is due to a lack of evidence showing a present disability during or within one year after service, while the skin cancer issue remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's skin cancer and addressing his TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the appellant's malignant melanoma of the right eye and pheochromocytomas and extra adrenal paragangliomas are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, due to presumed herbicide agent exposure. Service connection for skin cancer was denied as the evidence did not establish a direct link between the condition and active duty.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for a back condition and bursitis of the left hip. Service connection was denied for bilateral pseudophakia, skin cancer, and an effective date earlier than August 4, 2008 for SMC.,Service connection was also denied for an effective date earlier than November 17, 2008 for DEA.

The Veteran is currently assigned a noncompensable rating for his left leg varicose vein prior to December 8, 2016 and a 10 percent rating thereafter. The Veteran is entitled to a 10 percent rating but no greater for the scar due to excision of melanoma on his back.

The Veteran's skin conditions, including squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma in situ, have resulted in visible tissue loss and scarring on the scalp, face, and chin that meet five characteristics of disfigurement. The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for residuals of squamous and basal cell carcinomas as of July 3, 2012.

The Veteran's claims have been reopened, but the new evidence does not establish service connection for his conditions. The Board has determined that there is no clear and unmistakable evidence (CUE) to overturn the previous denial of service connection.

The Veteran's skin disability, including rashes, xerosis, inverted follicular keratosis, squamous dysplasia, actinic keratosis, lesions, and soft tissue sarcoma (skin cancer), is presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam. His coronary heart disease, PTSD, and individual unemployability are also considered based on the presumptive exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin disability, including skin cancer and photodamaged skin, is as likely as not due to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam and/or sun exposure during service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for actinic keratoses with inter-epidermal melanocytic hyperplasia, but denied the claim of entitlement to service connection for skin cancer.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple myeloma and/or melanoma, as well as lip cancer, due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The VA examiner found no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or to the contaminated water exposure.

The Veteran's melanoma is reasonably shown to be related to sun exposure during service, and the Board finds that service connection for this disability is warranted.

The Board found that the Veteran's metastatic renal cancer and skin cancer were not present during his period of active service or for many years thereafter, and the preponderance of evidence did not show a connection to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and skin cancer are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of his alleged exposure to ionizing radiation during the occupation of Hiroshima, Japan.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a skin disorder due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The AOJ obtained outstanding VA treatment records and afforded the Veteran a VA dermatological examination, but further development is needed as there was no evidence of atomic testing on the U.S.S. Gallant or U.S.S. Passumpsic during the asserted time frames.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.