Skin cancer Board decisions

The Veteran's cause of death was due to metastatic melanoma, which the Board found not related to his service-connected cold injury residuals. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a malignant melanoma cancer disorder is being remanded due to potential exposure to ionizing radiation during active duty, which may warrant consideration under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.311.

The Veteran's melanoma and prostate disorder are granted service connection. The Veteran is denied service connection for a prostate disorder due to lack of evidence linking it to service, including Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and the need for a new opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's skin cancer, including whether it is related to his service or his service-connected fungal condition.

The appeal for service connection of skin cancer is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for left shoulder melanoma should be remanded due to a lack of an appropriate VA examination addressing whether his melanoma is related to in-service sun exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a lack of compliance with previous remand directives regarding dermatology and podiatry examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and neurofibroma, both claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure. The case is sent back for additional development including obtaining a medical opinion on whether these conditions are due to the Veteran's presumed in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and a skin disability due to exposure to herbicide agents as there is insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an intestinal condition and skin cancer due to outstanding treatment records not yet obtained. The Veteran is also being asked to provide additional information regarding his sun exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for malignant melanoma, finding that the Veteran's role as a firefighter increased his risk and played a causative role in his diagnosis. The percentage of inservice contribution versus post-service contribution to the diagnosis cannot be determined.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and verifying herbicide exposure. An addendum medical opinion is needed to address whether the Veteran's neck condition is related to his active service or caused by or aggravated by military service, as well as whether it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

Service connection for porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is granted, and an initial rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is granted. Service connection for kidney cancer is dismissed. The appeal regarding bilateral shoulder arthritis, hypertension, and bladder cancer is remanded.

The Veteran's BPH was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's Peyronie's disease was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's skin disorder, including actinic keratosis, seborrheic keratosis, rosacea, was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's COPD was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer) was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including malignant melanoma, lymphoma, tinnitus, obesity, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss disability, peripheral neuropathy of the left and right feet, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and sleep apnea have all been denied. The denial is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any other relevant factor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease, skin cancer, and cerebrovascular accident with residuals of left side weakness were denied as there was no evidence to support the presence of these conditions during or related to his military service.

Service connection for skin cancer (melanoma) and renal cancer is granted.,The appeal regarding a gall bladder disability resulting in cholecystectomy remains pending due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea, bilateral upper and lower extremity arthritis, respiratory condition, other than a deviated septum, and skin cancer, all allegedly related to cold injuries in Korea. The Veteran is presumed to have suffered from such injuries.

The Board denied service connection for skin disabilities, including skin cancer and seborrheic keratosis, as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for full-body osteoarthritis, benign prostatic hypertrophy, skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma), bilateral upper extremity clinical peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity clinical peripheral neuropathy have all been denied. The Board found no evidence linking any of these conditions to service.,There is no diagnosis of full-body osteoarthritis or active skin cancer disability at this time. No in-service incident, illness, or injury was linked to the Veteran's present disabilities.