Skin cancer decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including verifying his exposure to herbicide agents and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) while stationed at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for skin cancer of the face and head, as well as PTSD, need to be remanded due to lack of VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to attempt rescheduling the Veteran for VA or contracted examinations closer to his residence.

The Veteran's skin cancer is found to be related to his service exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. As a result, the claim for service connection for skin cancer has been granted.

The Board denied service connection for prostate condition, malignant melanoma, and diabetes mellitus on the basis that there was no evidence of a causal relationship with service or service-connected conditions.

Service connection granted for a skin disorder other than psoriasis and skin cancer, but denied for left knee, right knee, bilateral ear, and sinus disorders. Service connection is also denied for skin cancer and left hip disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder was withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.,Claims for increased ratings for skin cancer on various upper extremities and face/neck were denied. The reduction in disability rating for hypertension from 10% to 0% was found improper, and the previous rating is restored.

The Board dismissed the claims of service connection for Sick Sinus Syndrome, Thyroid Carcinoma, Skin Cancer of the Face, and Multiple Lipomata due to procedural issues. The appeals were improperly docketed under the AMA system while concurrently pending under the legacy appeal system.

The Veteran's melanoma was not service connected as it did not manifest during or within a year of his military service, and there is no evidence linking the condition to exposure to herbicide agents like Agent Orange.

The Board has denied service connection for pancreatic cancer and melanoma, finding that the evidence does not support a causal link to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran's death was also not found to be caused by these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a new medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea. The other service connection claims are denied as there is no competent evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for melanoma skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, and multiple actinic keratoses due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions were related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting conclusions regarding the Veteran's cause of death and cancer diagnoses, requiring a VA medical opinion on the etiology of the cancers and their relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for kidney cancer with removal of left kidney, but denied service connection for colon cancer and melanoma surgery right side of neck and right ear due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty.

The Veteran's melanoma of the right forearm is granted service connection, with reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's skin disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and right eye choroidal malignant melanoma were denied as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure in service, and the conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for skin cancer before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's melanoma scar and lumbosacral sprain/strain disability are being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his low back disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, leaving no issues for further consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for a higher rating for spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine, service connection for Parkinson's Disease with restless leg syndrome, skin cancer, acne, rosacea, hypogonadism, pulmonary anomaly, and sinusitis due to exposure to herbicides. The Veteran is requested to provide additional medical opinions regarding these claims.