Skin cancer Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient efforts in obtaining service personnel records and ensuring compliance with 38 C.F.R. § 3.311(a). The Veteran's claim for service connection based on ionizing radiation exposure is reopened, but no rating or effective date was assigned.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for melanoma and a heart disability, both potentially related to in-service herbicide exposure. The Veteran will need VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for skin cancer, including melanoma and squamous cell cancer of the arm. The causes of death (metastatic malignant melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma) are also considered to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, and thyroid condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, skin cancer, and sleep apnea are remanded due to outstanding medical records and need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease, skin cancer, and a neurological disability (claimed as brain tumor) due to incomplete medical records and insufficient examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and dismissed the DIC benefits claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 as moot due to the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The skin cancer claim is denied as not related to herbicide exposure. Service connection for the allergic reaction to Compazine is also denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and remanded the remaining issues on appeal, including service connection for meningitis, chronic sinusitis, encephalopathy, skin cancer, Parkinson's disease, headaches, lumbar spine DDD, vision disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, neck stiffness, disability manifested by spitting blood, acquired psychiatric disorder, respiratory disorder, and gait ataxia. The Board also remanded for additional development regarding outstanding records from the James Haley VAMC and Social Security Administration.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a stomach disorder, skin cancer of the face, and thyroid cyst due to conflicting medical opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for large intestine cancer, small intestine cancer, lymph node cancer, glandular cancer of the ear, and skin cancer due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis or link between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's painful scars residuals of multiple skin cancers are granted a rating of 20 percent, but no higher. The Veteran's multiple skin cancer residuals remain at a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for skin cancer was reopened due to new evidence submitted.,For the low back disability, a rating greater than 10 percent is denied prior to May 3, 2017 and a remand is ordered for further evaluation after that date.

The Veteran's liver cancer is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand, with the opinion of a private medical examiner supporting this finding.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of hypertension, skin cancer, and essential tremors due to a withdrawal request from the Veteran. The appeal for reopening the service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was also dismissed as no new material evidence has been submitted.

The Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology and whether it is related to his service in the Gulf War.

The Board is remanding two issues: whether the debt created by removing a prior spouse was validly created, and entitlement to waiver of recovery of overpayment. The Veteran's request for a revised amount of his debt has not been addressed yet.

The Board has remanded two issues: 1) Entitlement to service connection for melanoma/carcinoma, and 2) Entitlement to an effective date prior to June 1, 2008 for the addition of the Veteran’s spouse as his dependent. The first issue is related to determining if the Veteran's current condition is linked to his military service. The second issue involves clarifying when the Veteran was recognized as a dependent by VA.

The reduction of the evaluation for prostate cancer from 100 percent to 40 percent, effective August 1, 2016, was proper. The Veteran's skin cancer remains under appeal and needs further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been submitted. The Veteran's symptoms related to his claimed conditions have not been evaluated in a recent VA examination, so additional examinations are needed.