Skin cancer decisions — 2022

The Veteran's hearing loss condition requires a new examination to assess its current severity.,The Veteran's left arm limited range of motion and bone disease may be related to service, including residuals of a gunshot wound during active service. The examiner should also consider whether the disability began during service or is otherwise related to service.,The Veteran's skin cancer may be related to sun exposure during active service or herbicide agent exposure.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder as moot due to a June 2022 rating decision granting such. The claim for service connection of a skin disorder was denied as there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current skin disorders to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for colon condition and skin cancer, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for his skin cancers, specifically those of the right bicep and head. The central issue is whether these conditions are related to his in-service exposure to herbicides, particularly Agent Orange.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, and no issues remain for decision.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for melanoma and skin cancer is granted, with the condition that a VA examination be conducted to determine the nature and cause of any current skin conditions.

Your appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a skin disability, including skin cancer, have been dismissed as you withdrew your appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to VA treatment, finding that there was no evidence of an increase or additional disability of skin cancer as a result of VA care.

The Veteran's skin disability, including basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, is denied service connection as there is no evidence of a nexus to his military service or herbicide exposure. The Veteran's PTSD claim for an increased rating is also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to chemical and biological agents used in Project SHAD, asbestos, and/or nuclear radiation. The claims are being returned for further development including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the claimed disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's skin cancer, finding that it is due to sun exposure during his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a heart condition and melanoma due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. A VA medical examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for melanoma, including as due to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange), due to an inadequate rationale provided by the January 2020 VA examiner and a need for further development.

The Veteran's cause of death was denied in 1989, and the Appellant successfully reopened her claim on December 3, 2013. The Board has determined that a new and material evidence submission from an October 2014 physician established service connection for cause of death due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability has not more nearly approximated the criteria for a compensable evaluation when mechanically applying the diagnostic criteria to the audiological testing results, and his complaint of difficulty hearing is contemplated by the rating schedule.,The Board finds that the evidence does not show that the U.S.S. Enterprise was in the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam from May 1967 to March 20, 1968, which would trigger VA's duty to assist him by providing him a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.,Service connection for astigmatism in the left eye was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss disability is related to service, including noise exposure while working as a boiler tech. The VA must also examine the Veteran to determine the etiology of his malignant melanoma and whether any scars are related to residuals of lipomas or malignant melanoma.

The Veteran's appeal of his claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 50 percent and to a disability evaluation in excess of 70 percent from February 1, 2019, for service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder has been withdrawn. The Board also remanded several other issues including service connection claims for skin cancer and residuals, sleep apnea, vision disability, acid reflux, shin splints, right upper extremity ulnar nerve neuropathy, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis (now diagnosed as left shoulder strain), TDIU, and SMC.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability for VA purposes.,Service connection for basal cell carcinoma and melanoma is denied due to lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred or aggravated during service.,There is no evidence linking the Veteran's skin disorders (basal cell carcinoma and melanoma) to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's metastatic melanoma, which was presumed to be caused by his exposure to Agent Orange during active duty, contributed substantially or materially to his death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.