Skin cancer Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for hemorrhoids has been denied as there is no evidence of large or thrombotic, irreducible hemorrhoids with excessive redundant tissue, persistent bleeding with anemia, or anal fissures.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for prostate cancer cannot be earlier than September 11, 2012. The Veteran did not file a claim prior to this date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records from SSA.

The Veteran's dry eye syndrome is granted with a 20 percent rating, and the maximum schedular evaluation for tinnitus is denied. Other claims are either denied or remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's malignant melanoma and his military service, particularly exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran is requested to provide a medical opinion on whether his current condition may be related to his in-service exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for skin cancer, including malignant melanoma in situ, finding that the Veteran's current condition is due to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which has been granted as secondary to the service-connected PTSD. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection. However, the issue of service connection for melanoma remains pending as no VA examiner has provided an opinion on its relationship to military service or herbicide agent exposure.

The Board denied service connection for melanoma, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, prostatitis, and eczematoid dermatitis and xerosis as they were not related to service or due to exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the claims for fibromyalgia, joint pain, and lack of a sex drive due to insufficient opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and records.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability is remanded due to the need for an opinion on whether his current condition is related to service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for opinions on whether his sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type 2, erectile dysfunction, and skin condition are related to service or a service-connected disability. The issues of service connection for melanoma and amputation of two toes on the left foot (claimed as due to melanoma) are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for other specified trauma is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination, and his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability is remanded due to the need for opinions on whether his service-connected disabilities are related or aggravated by each other.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for opinions on whether his respiratory condition (COPD), sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type 2, erectile dysfunction, and skin condition are related to service or a service-connected disability. The issues of service connection for melanoma and amputation of two toes on the left foot (claimed as due to melanoma) are also remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and PTSD disabilities, but has not yet decided whether these claims are well-grounded or granted. The case is REMANDED to allow further development.

The Board has granted service connection for basal cell carcinoma (skin cancer) residuals, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a lung disability due to asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence for service connection of various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II, right knee condition, lumbosacral strain (back condition), left elbow condition, pes planus, and residuals of melanoma.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for the cause of death and dependency and indemnity compensation due to new evidence received since the last denial. The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to complications from stage IV melanoma, which is presumed to have been caused by his in-service exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's death was caused by acute myeloid leukemia, which is presumed to have been caused by exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Service connection for AML is granted. The Veteran's right eye choroidal melanoma, loss of sight and renal failure are not service-connected as they were not related to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and is granted. The claim for bladder cancer is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,The claim for skin cancer remains pending, with the need for an addendum opinion to address whether it is related to in-service exposure or sunburns/sun exposure.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been remanded. An addendum opinion is needed regarding whether his diagnoses are related to fear of hostile military activity or a verified stressor.,The claim for service connection for COPD remains pending, with the need for an addendum opinion addressing whether it is related to presumed exposure to jet fuel in service.,The cause of death claim has been remanded. The Board will consider the relationship between the Veteran's PTSD and his respiratory disorder (COPD) as well as any other factors that may have contributed to his death.

The Veteran's claims for extreme joint pain, COPD, rectal impact surgery, skin disorder (including malignant melanomas), and PTSD are remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for Parkinson's Disease is also remanded as it requires an addendum opinion from the March 2013 VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypercholesterolemia/hyperlipidemia, a dental disability, plantar fasciitis, dizziness, mouth disability, eye disability, skin cancer, sebaceous cyst, thyroid disability, and kidney disability are all denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability for which service connection may be granted.

The Veteran's skin cancer and hepatitis A were denied service connection as they are not related to his military service, including herbicide exposure. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection is dismissed as moot because the earliest possible effective date, November 1, 2012, has already been granted. The Board finds no error of fact or law to consider.