Skin cancer decisions — 2020

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, due to herbicide exposure is granted. Service connection for this condition is also granted. The claims for skin cancer and respiratory disability are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for testicular cancer, coronary artery disease, lung disorder, and skin disorder (melanoma), all claimed as secondary to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The case will be returned to VA to obtain authorization and request relevant medical records, verify the Veteran’s inservice exposure, and schedule a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for skin cancer, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The decision is based on the presumption of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus has been granted. The decision also remanded the issue of increased rating for PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for skin cancer and Parkinson's disease with thalamotomy for right-sided tremor, finding insufficient evidence to support a grant of presumptive service connection due to exposure to ionizing radiation or ultraviolet light during military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right eye blindness and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined rating of 70% for his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for melanoma with scar and asthma, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for skin cancer. The decision on the hearing loss claim is based on noise exposure during service, while the skin cancer claim was denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The diabetes mellitus type II and melanoma claims are now reopened due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. Service connection is established for these conditions based on herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents and to obtain his complete service personnel records. The issues of service connection for various disabilities, including skin cancer, back cancer, back pain and thoracic fracture, gastroenteritis, bladder cancer, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, left hip disorder, osteoporosis, peptic ulcer, right foot vascular disorder, and sinusitis are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete medical opinions and additional development is required.

Service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), varicose veins, left leg, and skin cancer, to include on the right forearm, is granted. Service connection for diverticulitis is denied.,The Veteran's service treatment records show multiple instances of gastrointestinal complaints, including a diagnosis of diverticulosis with history of diverticulitis in 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and remanded the issues of service connection for skin cancer and entitlement to TDIU prior to September 11, 2012.

The Board has found that there were pre-decisional duty to assist errors and a remand is required due to the inadequate medical opinion provided in the November 2019 VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The regional office will review this evidence and consider its impact on the claims.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is granted as presumed due to herbicide agent exposure. The skin cancer claim is remanded for a VA examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for metastatic melanoma and cause of death due to the Veteran's cancer, finding that there was no evidence linking his exposure to ionizing radiation in service with his current condition. The Board also found that the Veteran’s type of cancer is not subject to presumptive service connection.

Service connection for skin cancer and a scar, status post skin cancer is denied.,The Veteran's sinusitis with headaches and face pain is rated at 10 percent from November 28, 2011.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for actinic keratosis scar residuals, not of the head, face, or neck, is granted effective September 20, 2016.,A compensable rating (10%) is also granted for a painful skin cancer scar residual on the facial area, effective September 20, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple service connection claims for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, liver disease, hepatitis C, skin cancer, neuropathy, residuals of shrapnel wounds to the back, buttocks, and legs, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and a lumbar spine disability. The appeal is currently remanded for further development.,The Veteran's appendectomy scar was rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 7804 due to pain but not instability.