Skin cancer decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection for soft tissue sarcoma, respiratory cancer, prostate cancer, and multiple melanoma are dismissed. The rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetes mellitus is denied. Service connection for erectile dysfunction is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's skin cancer is related to his service, specifically his exposure to sunburns and/or sun exposure during service in Vietnam. The examiner will be asked to provide an opinion on these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination in a previous decision, and now requires an addendum from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's skin cancer is related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as a result.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and kidney disability, as well as his claim for TDIU due to unresolved issues regarding herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam. Additional development is needed including obtaining treatment records, confirming herbicide agent exposure, and providing medical opinions on the relationship between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's claimed conditions of malignant melanoma, multiple squamous cell carcinomas, and seborrheic keratosis were not shown to be related to his service or exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Service connection was denied.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is granted a 100% rating effective January 30, 2017. The diabetes and bilateral eye disability are denied increased ratings. Service connection for depression, melanoma, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's skin cancer. The claim will be reconsidered after this development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to new evidence received since the last decisions. The AOJ will review this additional evidence and issue a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has remanded the claims for prostate cancer and ocular melanoma, left eye due to ionizing radiation exposure. The AOJ is instructed to obtain new medical opinions from the Under Secretary for Benefits considering all relevant factors.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for type II diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and skin cancer (claimed as melanoma), all of which are related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's classified Special Operations service in Vietnam from 1964 to 1966 and schedule a VA examination if confirmed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for a skin disability and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA must provide addendum opinions addressing whether the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service, including exposure to sunburns in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations on multiple conditions are being remanded due to the implementation of the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act (AMA). The VA is required to adjudicate these issues under the AMA system.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions from a VA examiner regarding the cause of the Veteran's left shoulder melanoma. The Veteran maintains that his service exposure to sun caused his condition, but the examiner stated it is unknown what causes melanomas.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, to include malignant melanoma, is being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board will obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether any diagnosed skin disorders existed prior to active duty and are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his cause of death due to malignant melanoma and lung cancer, finding that there was no causal link between these conditions and his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, is related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD and skin cancer, due to Agent Orange exposure, were dismissed as the Veteran requested a withdrawal of his claims.

The Veteran's skin disabilities, including basal and squamous cell carcinoma, actinic keratosis, and melanoma, are granted as service-connected due to his exposure to unprotected sun exposure during active duty in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for residual facial scar with numbness secondary to skin cancer of the right temple and asthma were denied. The claim for choroidal melanoma, left eye was remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinion.