Skin cancer decisions — 2024

The Board remands the claim for further development to obtain a TERA memorandum and schedule a VA examination regarding the Veteran's skin cancer.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, GERD, allergic rhinitis, hypertension, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), skin cancer, and hiatal hernia, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Veteran's skin cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by service, including as due to herbicide exposure. The Board found the evidence did not support a nexus between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, melanoma, and right foot scar are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The RO must obtain the Veteran's medical records from Cleveland Clinic and provide him with an adequate VA examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of malignant melanoma. The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during service and have continued since.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, skin disorder, left knee disability, right knee disability, and PTSD evaluation.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for asthma, bronchitis, COPD, pneumonia, and skin cancer as untimely due to failure to file a timely Notice of Disagreement within one year of receiving the August 2, 2023 rating decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between his in-service exposure and his current diagnosis of skin cancer.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a crush injury to the left index finger. The remaining issues regarding heart condition, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and melanoma are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's melanoma is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to deficiencies in the record, including a need for an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's skin cancer. The remand also includes consideration of Gulf War environmental hazards exposure.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for hypertension and remanded the issues of service connection for gout, right ankle condition, and skin cancer due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma and melanoma, as well as esophageal cancer, are not considered covered herbicide diseases for the purposes of Nehmer class membership. Therefore, the claim for retroactive benefits under Nehmer is denied.

The Veteran withdrew all appeals except for the issue of a compensable rating for hypothyroidism, which has already been addressed in another appeal stream.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, allergies, skin cancer, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, left lower extremity, right upper extremity, and right lower extremity, as well as residuals of an aneurysm. Service connection was denied for polyps in colon.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer was denied, and his adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood received a rating of 100% effective from August 13, 2018. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore DIC benefits are denied.

The Veteran's appeal concerning the claims of skin cancers, migraines, sinusitis, and COPD has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), PTSD, a back condition, high blood pressure, a hip condition, a left knee condition, skin cancer of the right arm, and sciatica are remanded due to failure to conduct VA examinations as scheduled.