Skin cancer Board decisions

The Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for PTSD prior to February 5, 2016. The remaining issues (service connection for skin cancer and ventral hernia) are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is remanded due to the need for further review in light of recent caselaw, specifically Ollis v. Shulkin (2017), which expanded the definition of 'proximate causation' and allowed for a lesser proximate causation requirement.

The Veteran's skin cancer and actinic keratosis are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that reasonable doubt should be resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that prolonged exposure to solar radiation during service in Vietnam contributed substantially and materially to the Veteran’s death.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for COPD and basal cell skin cancer of the face to include as due to Agent Orange exposure, and service connection for sleep apnea to include as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations and opinions due to lack of recent medical evaluations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's malignant melanoma is due to sun exposure during his period of service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's melanoma is granted service connection. The claims for bronchitis, low back disability, and upper back disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current skin cancer of basal cell carcinomas and precancerous lesions are related to excessive sun exposure during service, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory disorder (asbestos), skin cancer, ruptured groin, left index finger amputation, double compound fracture of the right lower leg, diabetes mellitus type II, and syncope were denied. The VA found no evidence to support service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for a prostate condition, squamous cell carcinoma of the right facial area (claimed as skin cancer), and facial blisters. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the appeal is, therefore, REMANDED as directed below.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development and an examination due to incomplete records, lack of unit history research, and other remand directives not being carried out.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a need for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed sunburn and malignant melanoma residuals.

The Veteran's skin cancer is related to sun exposure during service. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have been met and grants the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, right and left knee disabilities, and skin cancer are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's skin disability, including skin cancer. The Veteran was exposed to extreme cold and sunlight without protection during his service in Alaska.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for fibroids, melanoma on the neck, headache disability, and residuals of gallbladder surgery due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder arthritis, prostate cancer, basal cell carcinoma with melanoma, and diabetes mellitus, type II due to potential exposure to burn pit herbicides during active duty.

The Veteran's skin cancer, hypertension, and epilepsy are not service-connected due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Bilateral hearing loss is also remanded for further evaluation.