Skin cancer decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and related secondary conditions due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure during service. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the primary issue of service connection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, bilateral foot condition, and skin cancer as a result of herbicide exposure. The decision concluded that the Veteran did not have chronic conditions in service or within presumptive periods, and there was no evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer, hypertension due to herbicide exposure, and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's chest surgery and gynecomastia are not service connected, as there is no evidence of a connection to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's service connection claim for migraine headaches is granted. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for skin disorder, to include skin cancer and as secondary to service-connected migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his exposure to Camp Lejeune contaminated water, as he served at the base for over a month. The VA is instructed to obtain medical opinions regarding whether each of the claimed conditions are related to this exposure.

The Board denied service connection for melanoma, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for metastatic melanoma, finding that there was no evidence of its onset during or within one year after service and it is not related to presumed TCE exposure. The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be metastatic melanoma.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for hemorrhoids has been denied as there is no evidence of large or thrombotic, irreducible hemorrhoids with excessive redundant tissue, persistent bleeding with anemia, or anal fissures.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for prostate cancer cannot be earlier than September 11, 2012. The Veteran did not file a claim prior to this date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records from SSA.

The Veteran's dry eye syndrome is granted with a 20 percent rating, and the maximum schedular evaluation for tinnitus is denied. Other claims are either denied or remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's malignant melanoma and his military service, particularly exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran is requested to provide a medical opinion on whether his current condition may be related to his in-service exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for skin cancer, including malignant melanoma in situ, finding that the Veteran's current condition is due to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which has been granted as secondary to the service-connected PTSD. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection. However, the issue of service connection for melanoma remains pending as no VA examiner has provided an opinion on its relationship to military service or herbicide agent exposure.

The Board denied service connection for melanoma, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, prostatitis, and eczematoid dermatitis and xerosis as they were not related to service or due to exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the claims for fibromyalgia, joint pain, and lack of a sex drive due to insufficient opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and records.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability is remanded due to the need for an opinion on whether his current condition is related to service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for opinions on whether his sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type 2, erectile dysfunction, and skin condition are related to service or a service-connected disability. The issues of service connection for melanoma and amputation of two toes on the left foot (claimed as due to melanoma) are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for other specified trauma is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination, and his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability is remanded due to the need for opinions on whether his service-connected disabilities are related or aggravated by each other.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for opinions on whether his respiratory condition (COPD), sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type 2, erectile dysfunction, and skin condition are related to service or a service-connected disability. The issues of service connection for melanoma and amputation of two toes on the left foot (claimed as due to melanoma) are also remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and PTSD disabilities, but has not yet decided whether these claims are well-grounded or granted. The case is REMANDED to allow further development.

The Board has granted service connection for basal cell carcinoma (skin cancer) residuals, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a lung disability due to asbestos exposure.