Skin cancer decisions — 2018

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for melanoma needs further development due to incomplete records and exposure history. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records, including from his private dermatologist and VA treatment providers.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, type two diabetes mellitus, and skin cancer are denied. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence received after the June 2015 SOC, including VA treatment records and a need for a VA examination for squamous cell carcinoma on the back.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's skin cancer residuals, including left ear removal and nerve damage, should be remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, finding that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence. The appeal for service connection for skin cancer was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin rash and skin cancer of the left arm is reopened, but his claims for exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards are denied. The Board finds that additional development is needed before these issues can be decided.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the unavailability of service treatment records, which may contain information relevant to the cause of death.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including bilateral hearing loss, skin cancer, lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity neurological disability, head trauma residuals, vertigo, and vision disabilities. The effective date for PTSD service connection remains under review.

The Veteran's skin cancer and COPD are granted service connection. The effective dates for IBS, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are denied.,Service connection is granted for sleep apnea and a right knee disability.

The Board has ordered remand for further development regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for prostate cancer, skin cancer, and thyroid disorder due to radiation exposure. The RO must obtain a dose estimate from the Under Secretary for Health if it finds that the Veteran was not onboard the USS LSM 387 at Nagasaki Harbor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for liver condition, diabetes mellitus, Crohn's disease, skin cancer, and thyroid problems due to lack of new and material evidence. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis, vitamin deficiency, and skin cancer were denied. The claim for an earlier effective date of the 70% rating for depression was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for a skin disorder and peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by metastatic melanoma of the lymph nodes, which is presumed to have been incurred during his military service due to sun exposure and/or Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a right wrist condition is granted. Service connection for this condition, heart condition secondary to herbicide exposure, and melanoma secondary to herbicide exposure are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, a skin disability (including basal cell skin cancer, squamous cell skin cancer, and actinic keratosis), and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The decision is based on direct evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for melanoma, finding that it did not manifest during or within one year of his military service and was not linked to any incident or event of his period of service, including exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, skin cancer, and erectile dysfunction as due to exposure to herbicides are denied. The Board found no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during the Veteran's service.

The Board denied service connection for a liver disability and denied initial compensable ratings for scars of the head, neck, face, left abdomen scar (status post punch biopsy for melanoma), and left shoulder scar (status post melanoma removal and surgery).,The appellant did not have a current liver disability at any point during the appeal period. The Board found that his scars met criteria for a 30 percent rating but no higher.

The Board denied service connection for eye, skin cancer, head, upper spine, and backside disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.