Skin cancer decisions — 2019

The Veteran's skin cancer with squamous and basal cell carcinoma, along with actinic keratosis, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has ordered a remand to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for melanoma, pleural plaques, and sinus disability have been dismissed.,The Veteran has had his claim for an effective date of November 25, 2009, for systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) granted.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any fault or negligence on the part of VA, and there is no evidence of an event not reasonably foreseeable. Therefore, DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for skin cancer and respiratory cancer due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran must be scheduled for a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to service, including any conceded herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, vertigo or Meniere’s disease, insomnia, conjunctivitis, cataracts, ulcers, headaches, right-hand and left-hand disabilities, squamous cell skin cancer, cholecystitis (claimed as a gallbladder disability), colitis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, skin disability on the back, PTSD, right knee disability, lower back disability, left knee disability, hypertension, and GERD. The claims are denied as secondary to service-connected disabilities or due to in-service exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to failure of VA examinations and lack of notification. The issues include left eye disorder, genitourinary disorder, sinus disorder, skin disorder (including skin cancer), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's malignant melanoma is related to his service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The VA examiner needs to provide a more detailed and reasoned opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for cardiomyopathy, axonal sensorimotor neuropathy of the feet, colon cancer, and skin cancer due to potential herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The VA will obtain a medical opinion on the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development regarding exposure to ionizing radiation and service connection for skin cancer.

The Veteran's initial 10% rating for residual scar, cyst removal is granted. The issues of service connection for skin cancer and non-service connection pension are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within one year of separation. The Board also found that the Veteran did not provide competent medical evidence to support his assertion that his skin cancers were related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chloracne and skin cancer, finding that additional development is needed to clarify the nature of his current disabilities and their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for a heart condition, prostate cancer, and skin cancer are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for chronic kidney disease, right arm skin cancer, left arm skin cancer, left upper extremity numbness, left lower extremity numbness, and right lower extremity numbness due to their complexity. The Veteran is requested to provide an additional medical opinion from outside the Department based on his medical records.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability. The Board is remanding the case for further clarification of the Veteran's sun exposure during and after his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence suggesting a possible link between the Veteran's presumed exposure to Agent Orange and his current skin disability diagnoses, including basal cell skin cancer. The VA will seek an addendum opinion from a medical expert to evaluate this claim.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was denied. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for spindle cell melanoma and special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer, hyperthyroidism (claimed as Grave’s disease, thyroid problems and Raynaud’s disease), an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension have been dismissed. The remaining issues of service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity neurological disorders and hypertension, and an increased rating for ischemic heart disease (IHD) are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart disability, right knee replacement, left knee replacement, and melanoma and related residuals as there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for skin cancer and a separate compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.