Skin cancer decisions — 2023

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear skin cancer, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and no actual exposure to herbicide agents during military service. The first medical evidence of the condition was over 50 years after discharge.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's skin cancer and acquired psychiatric disorder are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's presumed exposure to Agent Orange contributed to his death. The examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion addressing these issues.

The Veteran's headaches are part of his service-connected undiagnosed illness/chronic fatigue syndrome and cannot be separated as a separate disability.,Bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is not related to the Veteran's service-connected undiagnosed illness/chronic fatigue syndrome, but rather is a separate condition that requires further examination for etiology.,The Veteran's back condition may be related to his military service and cumulative parachute jumps, but needs further examination to determine its etiology.,Service connection for a sleep disorder cannot be established without evidence linking the condition to the Veteran's military service. The Veteran's conceded noise exposure is also relevant.,Bilateral hearing loss requires further examination due to the Veteran's conceded noise exposure in service.,The right eye condition may be related to the Veteran's military service, particularly his conceded toxic exposure from Gulf War service.,Service connection for GERD and hiatal hernia cannot be established without evidence linking the conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's skin cancer is related to his service in Vietnam and exposure to herbicides. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if there is a link between his current skin cancer and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding records and inadequate medical opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant records, including STRs and private treatment records, and seek new medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his contention that his colorectal cancer, skin cancer, and intestinal disorder are related to exposure to toxins at Fort McClellan during service. The claims will be further developed with a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for melanoma, diabetes mellitus type II, and coronary artery disease (CAD) due to potential exposure to contaminated water from Camp Lejeune or Agent Orange. The VA examinations did not provide sufficient opinions regarding these conditions.,The Veteran's hypertension is also being remanded as there are no adequate VA examination records available for review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer, including malignant melanoma and residuals of surgical removal, due to herbicide agent exposure (Agent Orange) or Camp Lejeune contaminated water exposure. The Board found that there was no causal link between the Veteran's skin cancer and his in-service sun exposure, herbicide exposure, or contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he died during its pendency.

The Veteran seeks service connection for left eye ocular melanoma residuals, which he claims is due to in-service herbicide exposure. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides and to obtain an opinion on whether his condition is related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for hyperlipidemia, lymphoma, left and right ankle disorders, left and right knee disorders, and a skin disorder on the right collar bone to include a skin lesion and melanoma due to lack of evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Veteran's presumptive exposure to herbicides in Vietnam did not result in any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for skin cancer due to insufficient medical opinions regarding its etiology and because updated VA treatment records are needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to March 30, 2018, on an extraschedular basis due to the evidence not showing that his service-connected disabilities alone rendered him unemployable.

The Board denied service connection for cancerous warts, left arm and shoulder pain, erectile dysfunction, and fibromyalgia as these conditions are not related to the Veteran's military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of clear evidence.,Service connection is not granted for hypertension, skin disability (melanoma), or an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and hypertension are granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty. The claim for hypertension is granted under the PACT Act.,Service connection for hypertension is granted based on a March 6, 2017, claim. However, this issue is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if it is related to service-connected coronary artery disease.,The Veteran's melanoma claim is remanded as the Board needs more information about its relationship to his service.

The Veteran's melanoma and eczematoid dermatitis are granted service connection. The Board finds the asthma, bilateral plantar fasciitis, cervical spine disability, headaches, and OSA issues need further development due to conflicting evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, prostate cancer, and skin cancer (including melanoma) due to herbicide exposure. The AOJ was directed to investigate the Veteran's assertions of herbicide exposure and issue a Formal Finding with a determination as to the likelihood of such exposure. VA examinations were also scheduled to determine if the claimed conditions began during service or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back disorder have been denied. The claim for skin cancer is remanded.