Skin cancer decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including high cholesterol and its related conditions, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, aortic sclerosis, left lower extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, pulmonary granulomatous, bilateral pleural fibrosis, chronic right shoulder pain, upper extremity neuropathies, easy bruising, GERD, skin cancer, adrenal adenomas, colon polyps, enlarged prostate, and perforated tympanic membrane are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and chloracne, both linked to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent (Agent Orange), are denied as there is no evidence of current disability related to these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for skin cancer but denied service connection for thyroid cancer. Service connection was established for skin cancer due to in-service sun exposure, while the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's thyroid cancer was related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for thyroid disability, bone disability, and skin disability are remanded due to the need for additional evidence from the Department of the Army regarding his exposure to environmental contaminants during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further examination. The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the neck is under review, but his service connection claim remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of death and whether diabetes and lung cancer contributed to it. The appellant seeks service connection for metastatic malignant melanoma, but this disease is not presumed associated with herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and initial ratings for various disabilities, including hearing loss, pleural plaques, skin cancer, and varicose veins. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical records and provide a new opinion regarding the aggravation of a stroke by service-connected varicose veins.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's skin cancer, finding that it is related to his in-service sun and radiation exposure. The decision does not address any other conditions or issues.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims, including service connection for a skin disability. The Board finds the VA examiner’s opinion inadequate due to lack of discussion on in-service treatment and lay statements.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hand joint pain, right hand joint pain, diabetes mellitus, type II, and squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer) were denied. The claim for increased rating of radiculopathy of the LLE sciatic nerve was granted at 40 percent prior to June 9, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for necrotizing gingivitis and melanoma/seborrheic keratoses due to inadequate opinions in the previous VA examination, and for providing information about the qualifications of the examiner.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination regarding the Veteran's skin disorder, specifically his claimed melanoma and other than dermatophytosis. The examiner was asked to address whether these conditions are related to in-service exposure to fuel, battery acids, or organic solvents.

The Veteran's skin cancer and headache condition are not linked to service, including radiation exposure. The Board has remanded the case for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's VA Form 9 was untimely and denied his claims for service connection due to lack of timely appeal.

Your claim for service connection for skin cancer has already been granted, and the case is dismissed as there are no unresolved issues.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his scleroderma disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether his esophageal disorder, prostate cancer, and skin cancer are manifestations of or aggravated by his service-connected scleroderma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for skin disorders, including early evolving melanoma and basal cell carcinoma, finding that there is no evidence of a relationship between his current skin conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, CAD and old myocardial infarction are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service. The Board grants service connection for these conditions. Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's CAD and old myocardial infarction due to herbicide exposure. However, service connection for gastrointestinal disability, skin cancer, and respiratory disability remains pending as further medical examination and opinion are needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for stable angina due to exposure to herbicide agents is granted. The claims for service connection for sleep apnea and nonmelanoma skin cancer are remanded.

All issues related to service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.