Skin cancer Board decisions

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including bilateral hearing loss, skin cancer, lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity neurological disability, head trauma residuals, vertigo, and vision disabilities. The effective date for PTSD service connection remains under review.

The Veteran's skin cancer and COPD are granted service connection. The effective dates for IBS, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are denied.,Service connection is granted for sleep apnea and a right knee disability.

The Board has ordered remand for further development regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for prostate cancer, skin cancer, and thyroid disorder due to radiation exposure. The RO must obtain a dose estimate from the Under Secretary for Health if it finds that the Veteran was not onboard the USS LSM 387 at Nagasaki Harbor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for liver condition, diabetes mellitus, Crohn's disease, skin cancer, and thyroid problems due to lack of new and material evidence. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis, vitamin deficiency, and skin cancer were denied. The claim for an earlier effective date of the 70% rating for depression was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for a skin disorder and peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by metastatic melanoma of the lymph nodes, which is presumed to have been incurred during his military service due to sun exposure and/or Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a right wrist condition is granted. Service connection for this condition, heart condition secondary to herbicide exposure, and melanoma secondary to herbicide exposure are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, a skin disability (including basal cell skin cancer, squamous cell skin cancer, and actinic keratosis), and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The decision is based on direct evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for melanoma, finding that it did not manifest during or within one year of his military service and was not linked to any incident or event of his period of service, including exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, skin cancer, and erectile dysfunction as due to exposure to herbicides are denied. The Board found no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during the Veteran's service.

The Board denied service connection for a liver disability and denied initial compensable ratings for scars of the head, neck, face, left abdomen scar (status post punch biopsy for melanoma), and left shoulder scar (status post melanoma removal and surgery).,The appellant did not have a current liver disability at any point during the appeal period. The Board found that his scars met criteria for a 30 percent rating but no higher.

The Board denied service connection for eye, skin cancer, head, upper spine, and backside disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran developed malignant melanoma during his service in Iraq, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma) due to lack of evidence regarding herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's skin cancer is denied as service connection because the evidence does not support a relationship between his active duty service and his condition, despite his contention that it was caused by exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hepatitis C and skin cancer due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's lay statements are considered in determining whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for itching of the hands and face, right hand skin disability, right upper arm skin cancer, and skin cancer, head have been dismissed due to his request to withdraw these claims during a hearing before the Board.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, type II diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, lung disorder, cysts of the throat and right parotid gland, skin cancer of the forehead, loss of vision, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, bilateral foot swelling, and bilateral hand disorder. The claims were denied as new and material evidence had not been received to reopen these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left eye choroidal ocular melanoma is related to his service, including exposure to herbicides. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.