Skin cancer Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for left inguinal hernia and melanoma, finding no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of skin cancer have been rated at 30 percent since September 26, 2000. The rating has now been increased to 80 percent effective from June 19, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for multiple skin conditions, including malignant melanoma and other dermatological issues, is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding the nature and etiology of his skin disorders. The issue centers on whether these conditions are related to his presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and skin cancer, finding no current diagnosis of either condition. The claim for hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence of a disability meeting VA criteria. The claim for skin cancer was denied as there is no medical evidence linking it to service or any other event of service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher evaluations were denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a bilateral foot itching/fungus disability and the Veteran's melanomas/skin cancers are not related to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied service connection for skin cancer and granted an increased rating from 10 to 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss, effective July 20, 2006. The Veteran's claim for increased rating of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he does not have currently-diagnosed skin cancer associated with his active military service. Service connection for prostate cancer is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a prostate disability that is attributable to his active military service and denies the claim of service connection for a prostate disability. The claims of service connection for digestive disability and skin cancer are remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for skin cancer, to include malignant melanoma. The Veteran was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in March 2001 and a private physician opined that his in-service sun exposure contributed to its formation. A VA examination is needed to determine whether the Veteran's malignant melanoma was due to cumulative effect of his sun exposure during and after service, or post-service exposure alone.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a vision disorder, headaches, and skin cancer of the face have all been denied. The Board found that new evidence submitted since the final May 2004 rating decision was not material to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as opinions regarding whether the Veteran's death was caused by service-connected conditions or exposure. The appellant will be provided a supplemental statement of the case if benefits are still denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current skin disorder is not related to his military service, including exposure to radiation. Service connection for a skin disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss, and his claim for service connection of actinic keratoses and skin cancer was also denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and skin cancer of the arms. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these appeals as they have been dismissed.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for tinnitus and granted it as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for cold injury residuals and skin cancer were not supported by evidence sufficient to establish service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a condition related to his military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for left tympanic membrane perforation with intermittent hearing loss, polymyalgia rheumatica, and multiple skin cancers. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death is related to exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam, and grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.