Skin cancer Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the cause of his skin disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for melanoma is granted as the evidence shows that his current condition was incurred in service and caused by an in-service event, injury, or illness.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction and a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II due to the need for new examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected skin cancer residuals and any new diagnoses. The TDIU claim will also be considered in light of these findings.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to clarify whether the Veteran had an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and dementia, related to his active service. The claim for malignant melanoma is still pending.

The Veteran's skin disability of the face, head and neck is denied as there is no evidence or allegation of its onset in service. His PTSD has been granted a 70% rating prior to January 30, 2009, but TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's skin disabilities, including malignant melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. The opinion should consider both presumed exposure to Agent Orange in service and assumed extensive exposure to tropical sun in service.

The appeal for service connection of a low back condition is dismissed. Service connection and grants for skin cancer and scars secondary to skin cancer are granted.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including DDD of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, GERD, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, dermatitis, squamous cell skin cancer, CTS, upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, TBI, and migraine headaches. The Board found that there was no in-service injury or event supporting the claims for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer, finding that there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service and concluding that the current disability is not related to any in-service exposure.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right finger disability, cervical spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, heart disability (to include coronary artery disease), hypertension, high cholesterol, melanoma, diabetes mellitus, headaches, and acquired psychiatric disability (to include anxiety).

The Veteran's hypertension and cardiomyopathy are granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus and PTSD.,PTSD is granted with a 100 percent rating throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded two issues: one for a VA examination to determine the relationship between the Veteran's malignant melanoma and service, and another for consideration of his claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of treatment he received in his right chest area due to malignant melanoma.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, persistent depressive disorder, and malignant melanoma have been granted. The claim for a skin disorder other than malignant melanoma to include sarcoma is remanded. The claim for scars on the face, neck, ears, and cheeks is also remanded.,PTSD and persistent depressive disorder are now service-connected. Malignant melanoma remains in dispute due to lack of evidence linking it to herbicide exposure or service. A skin disorder other than malignant melanoma (to include sarcoma) and scars on the face, neck, ears, and cheeks also require further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to ionizing radiation and sunlight during active duty. The case will be referred back to the Under Secretary of Health for a dose estimate, and then to the Under Secretary for Benefits for an opinion on whether the Veteran’s conditions are related to his claimed exposures.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include an evaluation for a cyst, hearing loss, skin cancer, and a left foot condition.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions are inadequate to decide the Veteran's claims for service connection. Therefore, the cases are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's skin cancer and GERD were not found to be related to his military service.,PTSD was rated at 30%, 50%, and 70% prior to, from February 24, 2011 to February 3, 2016, and after February 4, 2016 respectively.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's malignant melanomas are not related to service, including as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran withdrew all his pending appeals for service connection claims, including those related to kidney cancer, organic brain syndrome, migraine headaches, hepatitis C, esophageal condition (chronic esophagitis), liver cancer, melanoma, and follicular lymphoma of the breast.