Skin cancer Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for status post excision of malignant melanoma on the right scapular area, claimed as skin cancer, has been reopened. The evidence submitted relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate this claim.,Service connection was denied for dermatoheliosis (skin rash) due to lack of evidence showing its onset during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the issues of service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders and cardiovascular diseases.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of a higher rating for his pulmonary disorder and service connection for his skin disability. The case is being remanded to obtain updated medical records, conduct further examinations, and provide an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's skin conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer, finding that his skin cancers were not caused by or related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for skin rash of the face, neck, and chest; melanoma; and basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma due to herbicide exposure, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to such exposure.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, skin cancer, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board has determined that the Veteran meets criteria for a 50 percent evaluation prior to October 1, 2015, and a 70 percent evaluation thereafter for his PTSD. However, the issues of service connection for hypertension and skin cancer are not addressed as they were previously resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the Veteran's increased rating claim for hearing loss and his service connection claim for skin cancer.

The Veteran's skin cancer, including actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma, is found to be related to his service in Vieques, Puerto Rico. The effective date for the grant of service connection is set at January 17, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for pulmonary sarcoidosis, malignant melanoma, and a right abdominal scar (secondary to malignant melanoma) have been granted. The Veteran now has a current diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis and the scars are considered direct service connections.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's prostate cancer and melanoma are related to his active service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. The case is therefore being remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as there is no current diagnosis of skin cancer or its residuals.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma (claimed as skin cancer) is found to be related to service and granted. The heart condition claim is denied due to lack of a current diagnosis. The Veteran's benign prostate hypertrophy (claimed as prostate condition) is not presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure, but the Board finds it more likely than not that it is related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bladder cancer is granted due to presumed exposure at Camp Lejeune. Bilateral hearing loss and skin cancer claims are remanded.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction are service connected due to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. The skin cancer and pulmonary asbestosis claims remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits has been granted, and he is now receiving a 100 percent evaluation for his heart condition (CAD). His renal insufficiency with hypertension is rated at 60 percent. He also receives SMC based on housebound status due to his CAD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and compliance with the February 2008 Joint Motion for Remand (JMR) directives. The AOJ should ensure that it has completed all previous Board remand directives.

The Board found that the Veteran's skin disorder, including as due to exposure to herbicide agents, did not manifest during service or is otherwise etiologically related to active military service. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's skin disorder was incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for the Veteran's facial scars are inadequate and remands the case for a new examination. Additionally, both the increased rating claim for the facial scars and the SMC based on housebound are inextricably intertwined and must be addressed together.

The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be metastatic melanoma, which the VA physician opined was related to ultraviolet light exposure during his active duty service. The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death.