Skin cancer decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in connection with these claims were inadequate and did not comply with the prior remand instructions. The Veteran's sleep apnea claim is being remanded for an addendum medical opinion, while his nonmelanoma skin cancer claim remains pending as it does not involve herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for skin cancer due to lack of evidence showing a chronic disability in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Veteran's claim for secondary sleep apnea is remanded as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding whether PTSD caused or aggravated the Veteran’s current sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance due to the use of fluorouracil cream during calendar years 2006 through 2016 is denied as there was no evidence that he was prescribed this medication and it did not cause irreparable damage to his outergarments.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional verification of his exposure to herbicide agents and further examination for heart conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for melanoma, finding that there was no evidence of its onset during active service or within one year of discharge. The Board also found insufficient evidence to link the current condition to presumed exposure to herbicide agents and/or sun exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and need for further examination regarding the Veteran's skin cancer and actinic keratoses, including exposure to depleted uranium, oil fires, and sunlight.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine arthritis is granted service connection, but his melanoma claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and scars on his head and nose due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to active service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The VA examiner is requested to provide opinions on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's skin cancers, diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, are related to his service exposure to Agent Orange. The Board found the evidence at least in equipoise that these conditions were caused by sun exposure during his time in Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for malignant skin neoplasms due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding the relationship between his in-service sun exposure and his current skin cancer diagnoses.

The Veteran's skin cancer, including actinic keratosis and recurrent squamous cell carcinoma, has worsened. The claim is being remanded for further development to obtain updated VA treatment records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's hypertension is denied as it was not incurred or aggravated by service. The skin disabilities (melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and seborrheic keratosis) are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for a new opinion regarding service connection for a skin disability, specifically malignant melanoma. The examiner will be asked to consider whether the Veteran's condition is related to his in-service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has dismissed all claims for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his metastatic melanoma was related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, small intestine cancer, large intestine cancer, nose cancer (claimed as radical flap), skin cancer, and stomach cancer due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The claims are being remanded for an examination to determine if these cancers are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected skin cancer residuals is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The TDIU issue is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Board denied service connection for melanoma, benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH), and erectile dysfunction as the evidence did not show a link between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board has found the VA medical opinion inadequate and remanded for further development, including obtaining a new medical opinion on whether the Veteran's skin disability is related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to lack of VA examination and the need for new evidence. His skin cancer is already service connected.