Skin cancer decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of her right hip disorder claim which is being remanded. The other conditions are now considered to be related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide an opinion considering both active-duty and Reserve service exposure. The Veteran's skin cancer is being reviewed again for proper consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The claims will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's lung cancer and melanoma of the left shoulder are not service-connected, with no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board dismissed all appeals due to the Veteran's death, as Veterans' claims do not survive their deaths.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he died during the pendency of his appeals for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and skin cancer.

The Board denied service connection for skin cancer, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis was not incurred during or related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for spindle cell melanoma was denied, and his claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance was also denied.

The Veteran's skin disability (residuals of malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma) is granted on a direct basis due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal for prostate cancer is dismissed as he wishes to withdraw the issue. The remaining issues are remanded due to lack of a complete record.,Issues related to skin cancer, foot disability (tinea pedis), diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy in lower and upper extremities remain unresolved.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for malignant melanoma, finding that there was no evidence of a link between his in-service exposure to herbicides and his current condition. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a compensable degree of skin disorder within one year of separation from service.

The Board has found the claim of service connection for an eye disability is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion and need for additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to metastatic malignant melanoma, finding that there is no evidence linking it to the Veteran's military service or exposure to herbicide agents. The Board considered conflicting medical opinions and found the VA examiner's opinions more probative.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for skin cancer due to the appellant's death during the appeal process.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and structural gastrointestinal disability, finding no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and his in-service treatment or exposure to herbicide agents/radiation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding her low back, left knee, psychiatric, chemical exposure, skin cancer, genitourinary, hypothyroidism, and muscle damage disabilities. The appeals will be further evaluated based on the results of these examinations.

The Veteran's skin condition, including his claimed skin cancer, was not shown to be related to service or herbicide exposure. Service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 27, 2013 for tinnitus is denied as there was no communication prior to that date indicating intent to apply for service connection.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 27, 2006 for psychiatric disorder (post-traumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder) is dismissed as a matter of law due to the finality of the April 2007 rating decision awarding service connection and assigning a noncompensable rating.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 21, 2014 for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as there was no evidence showing that any increase in disability or additional disability following the May 2011 left long finger trigger release was proximately due to VA's fault.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for multiple actinic keratoses and melanoma is remanded as there was no evidence showing that any increase in disability or additional disability following the May 2011 left long finger trigger release was proximately due to VA's fault.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded as there was no evidence showing that any increase in disability or additional disability following the May 2011 left long finger trigger release was proximately due to VA's fault.

The Board has remanded the claims for COPD with emphysema, OSA, skin cancer, and PTSD due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran's service in Vietnam is not established.

The Board denied service connection for malignant skin neoplasms and myasthenia gravis, finding that the evidence did not support a relationship to military service.