Skin cancer decisions — 2018

The Board has found that more evidence is needed to decide the claims for service connection for various disabilities, and has ordered a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) with consideration of new VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to failure of the Veteran to report for scheduled VA examinations. The issues are related to sleep apnea and squamous cell carcinoma, both claimed as resulting from exposure to asbestos or herbicide during military service.

The Board has decided that service connection for skin cancer, to include as due to exposure to herbicides, is denied. The claim for bursitis of the left hip remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lung cancer with lobectomy, lung disease, sleep apnea, and skin cancer (claimed as basal cell carcinoma, melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma) due to missing military personnel records and unverified exposure to asbestos.

The Veteran's HIV related illness and chronic adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety are granted service connection. The low back disability and skin cancer claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on four different conditions have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hidradenitis suppurativa, infertility, skin cancer (claimed as skin cancer of the breast), and asthma due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The AOJ is instructed to schedule a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the cause of his skin disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for melanoma is granted as the evidence shows that his current condition was incurred in service and caused by an in-service event, injury, or illness.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction and a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II due to the need for new examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected skin cancer residuals and any new diagnoses. The TDIU claim will also be considered in light of these findings.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to clarify whether the Veteran had an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and dementia, related to his active service. The claim for malignant melanoma is still pending.

The Veteran's skin disability of the face, head and neck is denied as there is no evidence or allegation of its onset in service. His PTSD has been granted a 70% rating prior to January 30, 2009, but TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's skin disabilities, including malignant melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. The opinion should consider both presumed exposure to Agent Orange in service and assumed extensive exposure to tropical sun in service.

The appeal for service connection of a low back condition is dismissed. Service connection and grants for skin cancer and scars secondary to skin cancer are granted.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including DDD of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, GERD, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, dermatitis, squamous cell skin cancer, CTS, upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, TBI, and migraine headaches. The Board found that there was no in-service injury or event supporting the claims for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer, finding that there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service and concluding that the current disability is not related to any in-service exposure.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right finger disability, cervical spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, heart disability (to include coronary artery disease), hypertension, high cholesterol, melanoma, diabetes mellitus, headaches, and acquired psychiatric disability (to include anxiety).

The Veteran's hypertension and cardiomyopathy are granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus and PTSD.,PTSD is granted with a 100 percent rating throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded two issues: one for a VA examination to determine the relationship between the Veteran's malignant melanoma and service, and another for consideration of his claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of treatment he received in his right chest area due to malignant melanoma.