Skin cancer decisions — 2019

The Veteran was granted service connection for skin cancer, residuals of cold injuries (including neurological disorders in the bilateral upper and lower extremities), and scars of the nose and right ear. The claim for dementia was denied.,The Veteran's current varicose veins in the bilateral lower extremities are being remanded to obtain a VA opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current skin cancer is not related to his active service, as there are no in-service records of skin cancer and the medical evidence does not support a link between the condition and service. The preponderance of the evidence shows that the skin cancer developed due to sun exposure over many years after service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including those for coronary artery disease, skin cancer, sleep disorder, nerve condition of bilateral hand, dry cracking skin of bilateral hand, and restless leg syndrome. The issues have been remanded due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's melanoma is related to his service at Camp Lejeune, where he was exposed to contaminated water.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss is not related to his active duty service, but granted service connection for tinnitus and skin cancer based on in-service exposure to loud noises and sun exposure, respectively.,Service connection was established for tinnitus due to noise exposure during service. The Veteran's current tinnitus is considered as at least as likely as not related to the noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lung disorder, keratosis of the whole body, and melanoma with scars due to insufficient medical opinions provided in September 2015. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional evidence from VA records and private sources, arrange for an addendum opinion from a physician, and ensure all actions are taken in compliance with this decision.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for ocular melanoma of the left eye due to exposure to herbicide agents, finding insufficient evidence to establish a causal relationship between the condition and active service.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various cancers and a heart disorder due to herbicide exposure, as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's skin cancer residuals, including left ear removal and nerve damage, are related to in-service sun exposure. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer, finding that his in-service exposure to sunlight likely caused his current condition.

The Veteran's skin cancer, diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma and melanoma, is granted service connection based on direct evidence linking the condition to in-service sun exposure during his time in Vietnam.

The Veteran's skin cancer, including melanoma and basal cell carcinoma, is at least as likely as not related to his service. The Board granted the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The issues of service connection for COPD, bilateral neuropathy, and skin cancer are remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma are related to service. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for malignant melanoma due to conflicting opinions and need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer (claimed as melanoma) is denied. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a heart condition and hypertension due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's skin cancer is granted as service connected, but his prostate cancer remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal of whether a substantive appeal was timely filed in response to a May 2014 Statement of the Case due to the lack of timely filing within the required 60-day period.

The Veteran's initial rating claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The claim for service connection for skin cancer of the neck, right arm and head was also denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for a skin condition, diagnosed as skin cancer and actinic keratosis. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service exposure to sun, which the VA examiners found contributed to his current skin conditions.