Skin cancer decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied service connection for skin cancer, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's skin disorders and their relationship to service, particularly his claimed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cause of death, metastatic melanoma, is related to his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, amputation of the right great and second toes secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, renal failure as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, and melanoma.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions due to lack of evidence showing a relationship between the condition and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Veteran was not granted a higher rating for his basal cell carcinoma with actinic keratosis and Bowen’s disease, as the condition did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,His claim for left eye tear duct dysfunction also failed to meet the criteria for an increased disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a spine disability. Service connection was denied for diabetes mellitus, GERD, and pneumonia. The skin cancer claim is remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for sleep apnea, gastrointestinal condition with constipation, GERD, erectile dysfunction, and skin cancer was granted. A disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder is also granted.

The Veteran's skin cancer is found to be related to his service, specifically the time he spent in Korea where he was exposed to sunlight without protective measures. Service connection for skin cancer is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left arm disability and remanded the issue of service connection for skin cancer.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for skin cancer and intraosseous meningioma due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The claims will be reviewed again with additional medical opinions considering the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition, also claimed as skin cancer, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against his claim and concluding that there is no causal relationship between his current skin conditions and his in-service exposure to sun, oil, and jet fuel.

The Board denied service connection for skin cancer and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding the preponderance of evidence against these claims.

The Veteran's skin cancer is not related to his service or herbicide exposure, and the VA examiner did not provide a rationale for their opinion. The case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has found that further development is needed for the issues of service connection for lung disease, sleep apnea, and skin cancer. The Veteran's service aboard USS Forrestal may need to be clarified regarding herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for multiple skin cancers and scars due to skin cancer is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for basal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service or exposure to herbicide agents or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,Both skin cancers were determined not to be related to the Veteran's time in Vietnam or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for basal cell carcinoma and melanoma due to discrepancies in the examination findings regarding in-service sun exposure. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are also being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for skin cancer, which he contends was caused by exposure to herbicides or asbestos during his service in the Republic of Vietnam. The Board has determined that additional development is needed and remands the case for a new VA examination and opinion.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of gastrointestinal disability, sleep apnea, and residuals of skin cancer due to the Veteran's death.