Skin cancer decisions — 2018

The claim of service connection for skin cancer is granted, and the claim of service connection for hypertension is remanded. Service connection for skin cancer is established due to herbicide exposure during service. The claim of service connection for hypertension requires a VA examination to determine if it is related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent prior to April 21, 2011 and 70 percent from that date until July 15, 2012. The appeal for prostate cancer and skin cancer remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including generalized arthritis disorder, bilateral elbow disorders, bilateral hand disorders, a back disorder, hypertension, skin cancer, and head disorder. The effective dates for the grants of service connection were not earlier than September 18, 2013.,An initial compensable rating was denied for hearing loss and an increased rating for tinnitus was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer is reopened due to new and material evidence, but the issue of whether his current condition is related to herbicide exposure remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) and presumed in-service exposure to herbicide agents caused or contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate development and lack of compliance with prior remand orders. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, skin cancer (including scars as residuals), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure to ionizing radiation during service. The claim will be processed again with additional evidence and a medical opinion.

The Board has denied service connection for retinal disease, hypertension, kidney disease, skin cancer, Parkinson's, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) as these conditions are not related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease, skin cancer of the face and arms, and diabetes mellitus type II have been granted. However, his claims are denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's cause of death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's skin cancer and its relation to his service. The Veteran needs to provide more information about his treatment, including from SSA, private doctors, and VA providers.

The Veteran's skin cancer was not shown to be related to his service, including exposure to herbicides. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as incomplete information regarding asbestos exposure. Additional opinions are needed on whether his right ear hearing loss disability is related to service, if CAD was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected varicose veins, and if his stroke and skin cancer are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for melanoma was denied, and his diabetes mellitus rating remains at 20%.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to herbicides and service connection determinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's skin cancers and his in-service herbicide exposure. A VA examination is needed to determine if there is a link.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, basal cell carcinoma, and peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The Veteran is also denied an initial compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss and a higher rating for his tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for asthma and melanoma with scar, as they are related to presumed in-service exposure to herbicides. The cases have been sent back for VA examinations to determine if there is a relationship between the conditions and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for malignant melanoma, finding no evidence of exposure to ionizing radiation during service and insufficient medical evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for malignant melanoma, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and a higher rating for coronary artery disease. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam.