Skin cancer decisions — 2022

The Board denied reopening of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of new and material evidence, including a lay assertion that the Veteran may have been exposed to herbicides during service in Korea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, skin cancer, testicular cancer, erectile dysfunction (ED), back disability, and left knee disability due to insufficient VA examination reports. The Veteran asserts that his current disabilities are causally related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp LeJeune during service.

The Board has granted service connection for low back pain, bilateral hip condition (secondary to knee osteoarthritis), and melanoma cancer. The Veteran's conditions are related to her active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange. The VA will attempt to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure in Thailand.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and melanoma/cancer that metastasized to the lung, as they are related to herbicide agent exposure. The VA will attempt to verify the Veteran's service in Vietnam and obtain his complete service treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and TDIU due to outstanding records not being obtained, including VA treatment records from Penn Dermatology. A new VA examination is also required.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disability, including malignant melanoma and seborrheic keratosis, as the evidence did not support a link to Agent Orange exposure or any other in-service event.

The Board has found that further action is needed to address the competency of a VA examiner who conducted examinations in March 2020. The Veteran's request for this information was not addressed, and thus the case is being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and his in-service exposure. The Board concluded that the Veteran did not meet the three-element test required for service connection under 38 U.S.C. �� 1110, 1131 and 38 C.F.R. � 3.303 (a).

The Veteran's PTSD rating was increased to 70 percent, and his claims for service connection for hypertension, OSA, COPD, right ear hearing loss, a skin condition (including skin cancer and actinic keratosis), and GERD were granted.

The Board denied service connection for skin cancer, but granted service connection for a back disability. The skin cancer claim was denied because there is no evidence of a current diagnosis during the appeal period. The back disability claim was granted based on credible lay statements and medical opinions indicating it was related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the respiratory disorder and skin cancer. The claims are not about service connection, but rather accrued benefits purposes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, including benign nevi, basal cell skin cancer, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The AOJ must obtain private medical records and provide the Veteran with an addendum opinion from a qualified clinician.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee disability, left knee disability, and skin disability to obtain additional medical opinions and further development.

The Veteran's skin cancer is related to his exposure to radiation during service and has been granted as a result.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer, COPD, and lung disorder are not related to his military service or any service-connected conditions. The claims for these conditions have been remanded due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition (cancer) has been reopened, but the evidence does not support reopening it. The Veteran's PTSD claim was denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's skin cancer and melanoma are related to his service, including exposure to herbicides. The VA is instructed to obtain all relevant medical records and provide an opinion on the onset of the conditions during service or as a result of service.

The Veteran's melanoma is related to his service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.