Skin cancer Board decisions

The Veteran's skin cancer is not related to exposure to ionizing radiation during service or any other incident of his active service, and the Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA audiological and dental examinations, as well as any relevant treatment records. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a higher rating for skin cancer-basal cell carcinoma, facial area, and a compensable rating for residuals of excision fibroma tumor with calcification, right mandibular alveolar ridge are being addressed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure and its potential impact on the Veteran's cause of death. The appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of her husband's death, which may be related to his exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board found no evidence of skin cancer or related conditions during the Veteran's active duty service. The medical opinion concluded that it was less likely than not that the Veteran's current skin disorders were caused by herbicide exposure, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's extensive history of sun exposure, including during his active duty service in the U.S. Army, contributed to the development of basal cell carcinoma residuals. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and kidney cancer, both of which were not present in service or within many years after discharge. The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and bladder cancer. The claim for skin cancer was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence, while the claim for bladder cancer was denied outright.

The Veteran's PTSD and skin cancer have been granted service connection. The PTSD is related to in-service stressors, while the skin cancer is linked to exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred between July 1, 2006 and July 31, 2006 are not covered by VA because the treatment was not for an emergent condition of such a nature that delay in seeking immediate medical attention would have been hazardous to life or health.

The Veteran's skin condition, including skin cancer and actinic keratosis, is being remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for malignant melanoma is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying in-service radiation exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the left knee and skin cancer, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, were denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of chronic dermatitis eczematoid and service connection for skin cancer, PTSD, and transient global amnesia were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were denied as his additional gastrointestinal disability, skin disability, and lower extremity disability are not considered to be the result of carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, or error in judgment on the part of VA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not experience continuous symptoms of any of his claimed disabilities after service separation, and therefore, he is not entitled to service connection for cardiomegaly, gout, skin cancer (claimed as mole cancer), residuals of a fracture of the left 7th rib, pulmonary fibrosis, or urinary tract infection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for colon cancer and skin cancer, both claimed as secondary to exposure to ionizing radiation and asbestos, are denied. The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses or in-service exposures that would support these claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to asbestos during service, which could potentially affect his claims for service connection for malignant melanoma and mesothelioma.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain VA treatment records and review the claim for service connection of skin cancer as secondary to residuals of sunstroke.

The Veteran's death was attributed to metastatic malignant melanoma of the brain, which is believed to be related to his service-connected melanoma of the left shoulder. The Board has determined that a VA evaluation would be helpful in resolving these issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to include obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.