Skin cancer decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for skin cancer, prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus due to additional development being necessary. The Veteran's service in Vietnam is not presumed based on herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for skin cancer, which is related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran's skin cancer was not found to be directly related to his service due to a VA examiner's opinion, but new evidence suggests it may be related.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for actinic keratosis, skin cancer of the left temple, skin cancer of the left throat, and skin cancer of the right ear as there is no evidence showing an in-service onset or nexus to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for missing VA treatment records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, melanoma, and lumbosacral spine strain are not service-connected. The claims for these conditions have been remanded to obtain additional evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.,The claim for service connection for skin cancer and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression) is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding exposure to ionizing radiation during service.,The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, is remanded as it may be significantly impacted by a determination on the skin cancer claim.

The Board has denied service connection for skin cancer and remanded the issues of service connection for left knee and left shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the medical evidence does not support a finding that his skin cancer is related to service. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to August 19, 2019 was also denied due to lack of sufficient service-connected disabilities meeting the criteria.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to metastatic melanoma, which the Board found not related to his service-connected cold injury residuals. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a malignant melanoma cancer disorder is being remanded due to potential exposure to ionizing radiation during active duty, which may warrant consideration under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.311.

The Veteran's melanoma and prostate disorder are granted service connection. The Veteran is denied service connection for a prostate disorder due to lack of evidence linking it to service, including Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and the need for a new opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's skin cancer, including whether it is related to his service or his service-connected fungal condition.

The appeal for service connection of skin cancer is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for left shoulder melanoma should be remanded due to a lack of an appropriate VA examination addressing whether his melanoma is related to in-service sun exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a lack of compliance with previous remand directives regarding dermatology and podiatry examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and neurofibroma, both claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure. The case is sent back for additional development including obtaining a medical opinion on whether these conditions are due to the Veteran's presumed in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and a skin disability due to exposure to herbicide agents as there is insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an intestinal condition and skin cancer due to outstanding treatment records not yet obtained. The Veteran is also being asked to provide additional information regarding his sun exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for malignant melanoma, finding that the Veteran's role as a firefighter increased his risk and played a causative role in his diagnosis. The percentage of inservice contribution versus post-service contribution to the diagnosis cannot be determined.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and verifying herbicide exposure. An addendum medical opinion is needed to address whether the Veteran's neck condition is related to his active service or caused by or aggravated by military service, as well as whether it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.