Skin cancer decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions and their relationship to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected residuals of malignant melanoma was denied. The effective date for the 30% rating is January 22, 2016.

The Board dismissed the appeals due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected. The sleep apnea and skin disorder (including melanoma) claims are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service connection claim for skin cancer, including as due to exposure to herbicides, is being remanded. The VA examiner must provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's diagnosed skin cancers are at least as likely as not caused by his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The cases of low back disability, heart disability, skin cancer and psoriasis, and diabetes mellitus, type II are all remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's skin cancer affecting the head, face, and upper body is granted service connection. The appeal for right leg peripheral neuropathy is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to lack of evidence showing in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's heart, uterine cancer with hysterectomy, follicular non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, skin cancer, and bilateral knee disabilities are pending further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive reaction does not render him so nearly helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, nor did it cause him to be housebound. Therefore, SMC based on need for aid and attendance or due to being housebound is denied.

The claim was denied due to lack of in-service incurrence, but VA treatment records show the Veteran was treated for skin disorders during service. The Board has ordered additional development including obtaining outstanding VA and government treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and prostate cancer due to ionizing radiation exposure. The Veteran will need to undergo additional examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain a dose estimate for radiation exposure during service, which is necessary to determine if the Veteran's uveal melanoma is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma and left thumb tip loss due to skin cancer, specifically related to exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bladder cancer, chloracne, Bowen's disease on right side of groin, and skin cancer due to herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran is also being asked to provide additional information regarding his claim for increased special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, finding no link between his current conditions and service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for psoriasis and remanded the issue of service connection for skin cancer. The Veteran's psoriasis disability is not considered to have originated in service, was not manifest within one year of separation from active duty, and there is no evidence linking it to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and skin cancer due to herbicide agent exposure, as there are conflicting medical opinions and missing records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to uncertainty about the diagnosis of lymphatic cancer and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for esophageal cancer and remanded the issue of service connection for basal cell carcinoma (claimed as skin cancer). The denial is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service, including herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer did not manifest during service or for many years thereafter and is not otherwise related to any incident during active service.