Skin cancer decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that new evidence, including service treatment records and military personnel records, is relevant to the Veteran's claim for service connection. The decision is remanded for a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of his skin disorder, considering in-service complaints and potential exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's malignant melanoma and residual right bicep scar have been rated at 10 percent since September 1974. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as the Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for any of the applicable disability ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, diagnosed as melanoma, is reopened due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for skin cancer, face and both arms, and bilateral eye disability. The issues are now remanded to determine if the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete retrieval of the Veteran's private treatment records submitted in June 2016. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for skin cancer, which is presumed due to in-service exposure to toxic chemicals like tetrahydro fluorine.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for melanoma is denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of secondary service connection for necrotizing gingivitis due to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for skin cancer and issues involving the effective dates for ratings assigned for left ankle, left leg sciatica, and left hip disabilities evaluated based on limited range of motion on flexion, extension, and abduction have been dismissed.,A 30 percent rating has been granted for a forehead scar from February 11, 2009, and for both the forehead scar and right malar cheek scar from August 20, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and skin cancer, both of which he claimed were due to his Agent Orange exposure. The evidence did not support a link between these conditions and his active-duty service.,There was no medical opinion linking the Veteran’s current BPH or skin cancer disabilities to his military service.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for increased evaluations and service connection. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating and TDIU are remanded due to the need for updated photographs and a comprehensive medical opinion regarding his service-connected skin disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer claim requires further development due to incomplete medical records and a need for additional VA examination.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, skin cancer, brain cancer, and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to insufficient information regarding exposure to toxins or asbestos. The VA will need to verify if the Veteran was exposed to these substances during his service aboard USS Sierra and US Naval Facility Eleuthera, Bahamas from 1968 to 1972.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for melanoma of the left chest and squamous cell carcinoma of the right temple and above the left eyebrow, both linked to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims of service connection for hypertension, ischemic heart disease, basal cell carcinoma (claimed as skin cancer), tinea corpora, tinea cruris, and psoriasis are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for an eye disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's melanoma is presumed to have been caused by exposure to burn pits during service, but the direct service connection theory remains under review.

The Veteran's PTSD claim was denied as there was no indication of intent to reopen the claim prior to his informal claim in February 2014. The skin disorders and scars were granted based on service connection due to exposure to Agent Orange.,Malignant melanoma was remanded for a new medical opinion, as the previous VA examination did not consider the Veteran's earlier diagnoses of skin issues.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a skin condition including skin cancer, and a right knee disability. The Veteran's claim of service connection for benign neoplasms of the gynecological system or breast (claimed as lipomas over body) is also remanded.,Service connection was not granted for heart disease due to an insufficient medical opinion addressing the Veteran's Reserve periods.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service.,The Veteran's left hip disability pre-existed service and was not aggravated by service.