Skin cancer decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for malignant melanoma and the cause of death due to metastatic melanoma. The Veteran's active duty service was considered, but an additional opinion is needed regarding whether his skin cancer was caused by sun exposure or toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of a skin disorder (claimed as skin cancer) before the Board could make a decision. The appeal has been dismissed.

The Veteran's chronic headache disability is granted service connection. The skin condition claim (claimed as multiple melanomas) and TDIU prior to June 12, 2018 are both remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for metastatic melanoma, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Vietnam is presumed and that this exposure caused his current condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and skin cancer. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, while his hearing loss and skin cancer are being further evaluated.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for GERD, Barrett's esophagus, skin cancer, colon cancer, and rectal cancer have been denied. The cases of skin cancer, colon cancer, and rectal cancer are being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer is remanded due to inadequate development and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's increased rating for skin cancer residuals is denied, and his claim for TDIU is also denied due to the combined disability ratings not meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and failure to consider the Veteran's contentions regarding his skin disability, including herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's diagnosed uveal melanoma of the eye is found to be etiologically related to his exposure to Agent Orange during military service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, and skin cancer are remanded for further review based on his in-service exposure to herbicides. The claims will be reconsidered with the presumption of exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder with primary sleep disturbances (claimed as PTSD), service connection for hernia residuals, scar secondary to hernia surgery, and skin cancer affecting nose, cheek, and chest. The Board finds the Veteran's disability most closely approximates a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's asthma has been granted service connection under the PACT Act. The remaining issues have been remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's skin cancer, which is presumed to be related to in-service herbicide exposure. The case will need further examination and opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chemical hypersensitivity, chronic fatigue syndrome (claimed as fatigue and soreness), residuals of a back injury (claimed as back injury between shoulder blades), skin disability (claimed as burning and stinging of skin), skin cancer(s), and sleep apnea due to incomplete development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate negative nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for malignant melanoma, which is related to his already service-connected basal cell carcinoma.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a current disability of tinnitus, which he reported as being due to noise exposure in service.,Service connection for skin cancer was denied because there is no evidence linking the condition to service or any aspect of it.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for essential tremor and skin cancer with melanoma and basal cell cancer, resulting in the dismissal of these issues.

The Veteran's skin conditions, including lupus, seborrheic dermatitis, and skin cancer, are remanded for further examination and opinion. The appeal is based on service connection and exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.