Skin cancer decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart condition, melanoma skin cancer with chemotherapy residuals, lung cancer with chemotherapy residuals, and the Veteran's cause of death due to potential exposure to toxic substances in service.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for malignant melanoma. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was established, with the onset likely in service.,Service connection for malignant melanoma was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for brain damage from a cyst on the brain, generalized dizziness, skin cancer in face and neck, lung cancer, left knee, and left leg smaller than right leg are being remanded due to insufficient evidence of service connection.

The Veteran's heart disease, prostate cancer, melanoma, and squamous cell carcinoma are granted as service connected due to in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for skin cancer, specifically related to his exposure to herbicide agents and participation in toxic exposure risk activities. The case will be further developed with a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a PTSD rating is denied as the evidence does not support awarding an earlier effective date.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of an earlier formal or informal claim prior to May 16, 2017.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for uveal melanoma and metastatic melanoma are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding etiology.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for uveal melanoma and metastatic melanoma are also remanded as there is no opinion on the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension, stomach disability (GERD), skin cancer, and right testicle cancer. These issues are being remanded due to incomplete development of his claims.

The Board has denied service connection for skin cancer as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis and the Veteran's claims are remanded for further development regarding his increased rating for coronary artery disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete development regarding his exposure to herbicide agents and insufficient medical opinions addressing his heart conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's skin cancer and his service, including exposure to herbicides. The Veteran is requested to provide medical evidence or participate in a VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and actinic keratosis, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include major depression, was denied. The claims for increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and various skin cancer conditions with residual scarring were remanded due to inadequate evidence.

The Veteran's melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma were not incurred in service or caused by his exposure to herbicide agents. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an adequate VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's skin cancer condition, which may be related to service including his conceded herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received sufficient to readjudicate the claims of service connection for basal cell carcinoma and melanoma. The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further examination and opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his skin cancers.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for malignant melanoma is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that may prove or disprove the disability and nexus elements of this claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Board finds that VA is obligated to provide an examination or medical opinion in a claim of service connection when the record contains competent evidence of a current disability or persistent or recurrent symptoms of a disability, and the record indicates that the disability may be associated with active service.

The Board has granted service connection for skin cancer, including Bowen's disease and squamous cell carcinoma, as the Veteran's condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected scars, including his back scar from melanoma, are rated at 10 percent for painful scars and noncompensable for the back scar. The Board found no basis to grant higher ratings based on the evidence of record.