Skin cancer decisions — 2020

Service connection for porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is granted, and an initial rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is granted. Service connection for kidney cancer is dismissed. The appeal regarding bilateral shoulder arthritis, hypertension, and bladder cancer is remanded.

The Veteran's BPH was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's Peyronie's disease was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's skin disorder, including actinic keratosis, seborrheic keratosis, rosacea, was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's COPD was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer) was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including malignant melanoma, lymphoma, tinnitus, obesity, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss disability, peripheral neuropathy of the left and right feet, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and sleep apnea have all been denied. The denial is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any other relevant factor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease, skin cancer, and cerebrovascular accident with residuals of left side weakness were denied as there was no evidence to support the presence of these conditions during or related to his military service.

Service connection for skin cancer (melanoma) and renal cancer is granted.,The appeal regarding a gall bladder disability resulting in cholecystectomy remains pending due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea, bilateral upper and lower extremity arthritis, respiratory condition, other than a deviated septum, and skin cancer, all allegedly related to cold injuries in Korea. The Veteran is presumed to have suffered from such injuries.

The Board denied service connection for skin disabilities, including skin cancer and seborrheic keratosis, as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for full-body osteoarthritis, benign prostatic hypertrophy, skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma), bilateral upper extremity clinical peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity clinical peripheral neuropathy have all been denied. The Board found no evidence linking any of these conditions to service.,There is no diagnosis of full-body osteoarthritis or active skin cancer disability at this time. No in-service incident, illness, or injury was linked to the Veteran's present disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for melanoma, concluding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that there is at least a 50% chance the Veteran's metastatic melanoma of the lungs was related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at noncompensable (0%) due to the severity of his hearing impairment not warranting a higher rating.,Service connection for prostate disability, left knee disability, kidney disability, and skin cancer of the left ear are denied as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure to herbicides.,The Veteran's left knee disability remains unconnected to his military service. The Board finds that his current symptoms do not correlate with his service record and are less likely related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's metastatic melanoma is being remanded for further development due to a failure to reschedule an examination.

Service connection for skin cancer is granted.,An initial rating higher than 20 percent for back disability prior to February 10, 2020, and higher than 40 percent thereafter is denied. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for melanoma, finding no current diagnosis and noting the Veteran's separation from active service more than 35 years ago. The Board also noted that melanoma is not a disease associated with exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's skin cancer and hypothyroidism are not subject to presumptive service connection based on radiation exposure, but the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a radiation-exposed Veteran. The case is remanded for further development including dose estimates, medical opinions, and an advisory opinion from the Under Secretary for Health.

The Board denied service connection for skin cancer as there is no evidence that the condition had its onset during active duty or was otherwise related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for non-melanoma skin cancer, finding that his current condition is at least as likely as not related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal because his timely substantive appeal was not received within 60 days of the October 16, 2019 Statement of the Case.

The Board denied service connection for thyroid cancer, prostate cancer, and skin cancer due to radiation exposure during service as there was no evidence of in-service onset or a link between the conditions and the alleged exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he was able to maintain full-time employment in law enforcement until his retirement. The Board found that the most probative evidence does not support a finding of unemployability due to his service-connected conditions.