Skin cancer decisions — 2026

The Board has dismissed the appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they were withdrawn by the Veteran's representative. The claims of service connection for a bilateral eye disability, prostate cancer, skin cancer, left knee disability, right knee disability, cardiovascular disability, and headaches are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all listed conditions has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's malignant melanoma and related conditions have been granted increased ratings, effective dates for earlier effective dates, and SMC housebound status from January 18, 2024, to August 31, 2024.,Service connection has also been established for a right eye condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected malignant melanoma.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and a need for further investigation into toxic exposure risk activities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate due to his ability to perform most activities of daily living independently despite some limitations.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of August 10, 2022 for the grant of service connection for skin cancer and its residuals. The appeal for an increased rating is remanded.

The claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, malignant melanoma, and scoliosis have been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for a back disability, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar and thoracic spine.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service. The case was remanded for further development.,The claims of service connection for skin cancer and respiratory disability remain pending and are being remanded for additional examination and opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for malignant melanoma, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between the current diagnosis and active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion from a clinician that considers the Veteran's MOS in field artillery, articles submitted on herbicide exposure, and his total toxic exposure risk activities.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin condition, specifically chronic multiple melanomas, finding that the Veteran's reports of in-service sunburn and exposure to tropical locations are credible. The Board concludes that the evidence is in approximate balance regarding whether the skin condition had its onset in service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations did not adequately address the September 2025 remand directives and thus, the claim for service connection for skin cancer is being remanded again.

The Veteran's malignant melanoma is granted service connection, with the claim being considered presumptive due to exposure to burn pits during his deployment in Iraq.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease, chronic skin rash, and chronic strokes. The claim for melanoma is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

Service connection is granted for prostate cancer. Service connection is remanded for skin cancer due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's melanoma is not related to his active service, and therefore denied the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for atrial fibrillation secondary to hypertension, aortic valve disease and residuals, squamous cell carcinoma and residuals, malignant melanoma and residuals, and basal cell carcinoma and residuals. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agent in Vietnam is presumed.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding records from private providers related to the Veteran's skin cancer treatment, and therefore remands the case for further action.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for left ear hearing loss, hyperlipidemia, right ear hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, COPD, and skin cancer are denied.,The Veteran's service records do not support the grant of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for frontal lobe dementia and melanoma are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and clarification of the relationship between his conditions and service.