Skin cancer decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected malignant melanoma contributed substantially to his death, which is considered due to a service-connected disability. Service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is granted.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, a hand condition, skin cancers, and a lung condition. The Veteran's claim for PTSD was also denied.,Service connection was not established for any of these conditions as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the Veteran did not provide credible supporting evidence that his claimed stressors actually occurred.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for skin cancer, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and cardiovascular disorder due to exposure to herbicides. The VA examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of death and DIC benefits, finding that there was no evidence linking the Veteran’s death to his active service. The Board concluded that the cause of death (metastatic melanoma) was not related to any disability incurred or aggravated during service.

The Board has remanded two issues for further development: service connection for skin cancer and service connection for a low back disorder, diagnosed as DDD of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development.

The Veteran's bladder cancer with metastasis to the bone, liver, and spine is granted as service connection due to exposure to ionizing radiation.,Service connection for melanoma (skin cancer), liver cancer, bilateral hip cancer, lung cancer, collarbone cancer, and spine cancer are denied.

The Board has withdrawn the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, throat cancer, and lung cancer. The claim for new and material evidence to reopen service connection for depression is denied. Service connection for skin cancer is also denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and skin disorders are related to his diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims for hypertension and ED have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed as there was no formal or informal claim prior to May 30, 2017.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for malignant melanoma and right chest scar are denied.

Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus type II and erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.,Service connection is denied for a respiratory disorder. Service connection is remanded for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and skin cancers (claimed as soft tissue sarcoma).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer, multi-myeloma cancer, and hypertension due to additional development being required. Specifically, further verification of in-service exposure to ALUMIPREP or Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is needed, as well as an etiology opinion regarding the relationship between these conditions and his time in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, including as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The evidence did not support a finding that his current skin conditions were incurred or aggravated by his time in service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of November 22, 2013, for the grant of service connection for prostate cancer is granted. The Board also remanded two issues: entitlement to a compensable rating for anxiety disorder and service connection for melanoma of the skin.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for further development regarding in-service herbicide exposure and the existence of certain disorders. The Veteran's service aboard ships within Vietnam is being reviewed, as are his claims for various disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for eye disorder, lump on back (lipoma), and skin cancer have been reopened but are still pending due to the need for additional evidence.,Service connection for PTSD has not been granted.

The Veteran's right foot and left foot disabilities are denied as they did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge, and there is no evidence linking them to service.,The Veteran's left hip disability (osteoarthritis) is granted as the evidence is in relative equipoise with regard to its relation to service. However, his skin cancer is denied due to lack of a nexus between it and service.

The Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for left knee disability, COPD, hypertension, skin cancer, and heart condition are all remanded due to incomplete service treatment records. The Board finds new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim for left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for colon/rectal cancer and skin cancer due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents or radiation. The case is sent back for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the cause of death.