Skin cancer decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence for service connection of various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II, right knee condition, lumbosacral strain (back condition), left elbow condition, pes planus, and residuals of melanoma.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for the cause of death and dependency and indemnity compensation due to new evidence received since the last denial. The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to complications from stage IV melanoma, which is presumed to have been caused by his in-service exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's death was caused by acute myeloid leukemia, which is presumed to have been caused by exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Service connection for AML is granted. The Veteran's right eye choroidal melanoma, loss of sight and renal failure are not service-connected as they were not related to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and is granted. The claim for bladder cancer is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,The claim for skin cancer remains pending, with the need for an addendum opinion to address whether it is related to in-service exposure or sunburns/sun exposure.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been remanded. An addendum opinion is needed regarding whether his diagnoses are related to fear of hostile military activity or a verified stressor.,The claim for service connection for COPD remains pending, with the need for an addendum opinion addressing whether it is related to presumed exposure to jet fuel in service.,The cause of death claim has been remanded. The Board will consider the relationship between the Veteran's PTSD and his respiratory disorder (COPD) as well as any other factors that may have contributed to his death.

The Veteran's claims for extreme joint pain, COPD, rectal impact surgery, skin disorder (including malignant melanomas), and PTSD are remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for Parkinson's Disease is also remanded as it requires an addendum opinion from the March 2013 VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypercholesterolemia/hyperlipidemia, a dental disability, plantar fasciitis, dizziness, mouth disability, eye disability, skin cancer, sebaceous cyst, thyroid disability, and kidney disability are all denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability for which service connection may be granted.

The Veteran's skin cancer and hepatitis A were denied service connection as they are not related to his military service, including herbicide exposure. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection is dismissed as moot because the earliest possible effective date, November 1, 2012, has already been granted. The Board finds no error of fact or law to consider.

The Veteran's left eye disability, specifically ocular melanoma, was granted a 30 percent evaluation from April 16, 2016. The condition had previously been rated as noncompensable prior to that date.

The Board denied service connection for skin cancer and thyroid condition, both of which were found to not be related to the Veteran's active duty service or exposure to herbicide agents or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, finding that his current disabilities did not have their onset in or were aggravated by active service. The Board also found no evidence of any symptoms or treatment attributable to a skin disorder for nearly 50 years after the Veteran's discharge from active service.

The appeal of the denial of TBI service connection is dismissed due to lack of an adequate substantive appeal. The claim for secondary service connection for OSA, thyroid nodules, and skin cancer is partially granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's low back disorder due to reported worsening symptoms. The other issues related to skin cancer and left leg scars have been denied.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran’s claims on this current appeal for service connection for left and right shoulder conditions, as well as skin cancer. The Veteran's claims are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his skin cancer and exposure to Agent Orange or any other service-related factors. The preponderance of the evidence supports the conclusion that the skin cancer was not incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened and granted. The appeal is denied for the remaining issues, including high cholesterol, melanoma, hypothyroidism, peripheral neuropathy, kidney disability, heart disability, lumbar degenerative arthritis, PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for onychomycosis of the right and left toenails, but remanded the issue of service connection for melanoma due to lack of evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for eczema, skin cancer/rashes, and hypertension due to exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange).,Service connection is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence/aggravation. The Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam.