Skin cancer decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer and residual scarring are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing exposure to ionizing radiation in service, and there is no indication that his current conditions are related to any incident or event during service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for skin cancer, arthritis, emphysema with COPD, congestive heart failure, and an increased rating for bilateral interstitial fibrosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition, including skin cancer and residuals of ringworm infection, claimed as a result of herbicide exposure. The decision found that there was no evidence of current disability or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied as the evidence does not support a finding of this condition.

The Veteran's brain lesion, heart disability (mitral valve prolapse and atrial fibrillation), skin rash, and skin cancer were not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service.,Service connection was denied for all claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for malignant melanoma and Gulf War Syndrome are granted. The claim for a disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.,The Veteran's malignant melanoma is related to her period of active service, and she is entitled to service connection for this condition. Her Gulf War Syndrome is also related to her period of active service.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for residuals of an excision of a melanoma, right posterior arm, to include nerve damage, is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his claimed skin cancer and back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for melanoma, finding that there was no credible evidence of severe blistering sunburns during basic training and thus no in-service injury or disease. The Board also found that the Veteran's subsequent development of melanoma is not causally related to his service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer was dismissed as the appeal was withdrawn.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability were granted based on new evidence.

The Veteran claims service connection for skin cancer, which he asserts is related to his in-service exposure to sun. The Board finds a remand necessary due to the need for an examination and review of additional evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for esophageal adenocarcinoma, skin cancer, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.,There is no in-service injury or event that meets the second element of direct service connection. The Board found that the current disabilities are less likely than not incurred in or caused by the Veteran's active duty service, nor did they have their onset during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for malignant melanoma is being remanded due to the need for a more comprehensive examination and opinion regarding the relationship between his service, including duty stations in Texas and Hawaii, and his current condition.

The Board has granted service connection for melanoma and renal insufficiency, but denied service connection for right knee disability. The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for dental trauma to tooth #8 is pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer is related to his active service, while COPD is not. The skin cancer claim is granted, and the COPD claim is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's status-post excision melanoma of middle-to-lower back was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for throat cancer, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, skin cancer, and an acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD) have been granted. The decision also addressed the reopening of these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims for skin cancer, sebaceous cysts, heart disease, and COPD are also denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for recurrent basal cell carcinoma and an initial compensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss disability. The Veteran's case will be returned to the AOJ after this development.