Skin cancer decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's malignant melanoma and its relation to service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for anxiety, sleep apnea, a heart disability, and a skin disability (including actinic keratoses and bleeding knuckles) due to unresolved issues. The claim for melanoma on the abdomen with residual scar remains denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for chemical dermatitis due to a lack of specific information regarding the extent and frequency of flare-ups. The case is being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of the medical opinions regarding service connection for skin cancer and the rating for ventral hernia residuals.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's skin cancer and residuals are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination.,The Veteran's COPD is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination. The examiner was directed to address whether the Veteran’s COPD was causally related to exposure to herbicide agents, smoke, and fires while in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for right hip disability, left hip disability, peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson’s disease, cervical degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and other conditions. The VA is instructed to obtain the Veteran's SSA records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and melanoma due to exposure to ionizing radiation, as the extent of his exposure is uncertain. The AOJ must complete the development specified in 38 C.F.R. § 3.311(a)(2)(iii) and undertake further development required under the regulation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for melanoma of the right eyelid and COPD, both claimed as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The evidence did not support a causal link between these conditions and the Veteran's exposure to contaminants.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is granted as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran's skin cancer is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed heart disorder, skin cancer, precancerous lesions of the face, hair loss, and a skin disorder manifested by redness of the face and arms as they were not shown to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for peripheral neuropathy, tremors, muscular conditions, and other neurological condition disabilities, as well as skin cancer and swallowing impairment, due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The claims are being reviewed again with a focus on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with previous directives and the need for a new examination by a board-certified dermatologist. The Veteran's representative requested additional medical literature linking skin cancer to ionizing radiation exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin conditions and hypertension due to exposure to herbicides. The remand requires additional opinions from VA examiners regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current skin conditions, including rosacea, solar lentigo, actinic keratosis, and residuals of skin cancer, and his in-service sun exposure and herbicide exposure. Additionally, an opinion is needed on whether hypertension is related to service-connected PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea, or diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for skin cancer, including melanoma of the right arm, squamous cell carcinoma of the chest and groin, and basal cell carcinoma of the nose, as these conditions are related to in-service sun exposure.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of PTSD, migraine headaches, tinnitus, and a scalp scar. The appeal regarding service connection for atrial fibrillation (claimed as ischemic heart disease) and skin cancer is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension and skin cancer of the face due to herbicide exposure, as well as high cholesterol. High cholesterol is not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of records and incomplete VA examinations. The Veteran's claims for various conditions are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board denied service connection for bone disease (claimed as bone marrow malignancy) due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or exposure to Agent Orange.,However, the Board granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer), finding that sun exposure during service is at least in equipoise with the possibility of a link to the current condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's skin cancer, including malignant melanoma, is related to his service and remanded for further action.