Skin cancer decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and adjudication, including obtaining income verification from the appellant and her Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits information. The Board also requested an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for skin cancer has been dismissed as he requested its withdrawal. The case of his prostate cancer is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding claimed herbicide agent exposure.

The Board denied service connection for skin cancer including squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, as well as service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD. The decision is based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and ocular melanoma of the left eye, finding that there was no evidence of a diagnosis within one year of discharge from service and concluding that it is unlikely these conditions are related to in-service exposure.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's skin cancer of the right upper back is related to service, and updated treatment records are requested.

The appeal of service connection for hearing loss is dismissed. The appeals for service connection for leukemia, myeloma, diabetes mellitus, gall bladder condition, joint pain, gout, heart problems, hypertension, pressure hives, and skin cancer are remanded due to the Veteran's request to withdraw the issue of service connection for hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for COPD and skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service. The Veteran is asked to undergo further examinations to determine if his conditions are related to his military duties.

The Veteran's skin cancer and CAD were denied service connection. The reduction of the CAD rating from 100% to 30% was upheld, but a new rating of 60% was granted effective February 21, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding private medical records and need for additional opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that more evidentiary development is required for the claims of service connection for multiple myeloma and melanoma. The Veteran's claim for service connection for multiple myeloma will be remanded to obtain a VA examination, while his claim for service connection for melanoma due to exposure to ionizing radiation requires additional development including obtaining an official exposure record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and residuals of skin cancer due to insufficient evidence in some cases.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, ischemic heart disease, and diabetes mellitus, type II due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's skin cancer claim remains denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for postoperative meningioma and history of cerebrovascular incident. The claims for service connection for malignant melanoma of the back, basal cell carcinoma of the right temporal area, and prostate cancer have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. Service connection is presumed based on exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate August 2017 VA medical examination and a need for further investigation into potential exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including breathing problems, hypertension, skin cancer, and skin rashes. The heart condition (enlarged heart) was also denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed it due to the withdrawal.

The Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for PTSD prior to February 5, 2016. The remaining issues (service connection for skin cancer and ventral hernia) are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is remanded due to the need for further review in light of recent caselaw, specifically Ollis v. Shulkin (2017), which expanded the definition of 'proximate causation' and allowed for a lesser proximate causation requirement.

The Veteran's skin cancer and actinic keratosis are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that reasonable doubt should be resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that prolonged exposure to solar radiation during service in Vietnam contributed substantially and materially to the Veteran’s death.