Skin cancer Board decisions

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for diminished sex drive, gastroesophageal reflex disorder (GERD), aching joints, ulcers, COPD, hypertension, conjunctivitis, sleep apnea, melanoma, and dermatitis. The claim for PTSD remains pending.

The Board found that the veteran's fatal metastatic malignant melanoma was not related to his presumed exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam, and therefore denied service connection for the cause of death.

The veteran requested to withdraw his appeal, and the Board has dismissed the case due to this request.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that his pancreatic cancer and death were not caused by or related to any service-connected conditions.

The VA has determined that the veteran's right foot skin cancer residuals do not warrant a compensable evaluation since November 3, 1998.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and need for additional examinations. The veteran's claims of increased rating, secondary service connection for skin cancer, and secondary service connection for psychiatric disability are pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a revised dose estimate from the DTRA and requesting an opinion on whether sound scientific evidence supports the conclusion that the veteran's skin cancer resulted from exposure to ionizing radiation during active service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a medical examination and review of his claims file to determine if his tongue cancer is related to service exposure. The skin cancer issue requires an appropriate statement of the case due to the need for new evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining service medical and personnel records and affording the veteran a VA examination.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise, and by extending the benefit of the doubt to the veteran, service connection for skin cancer is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and arthritis of the ankles, finding no evidence of these conditions during service or related to herbicide exposure.

The veteran's skin cancer is found to be incurred as a consequence of active service due to lifetime sun exposure. The hearing loss issue remains pending for further development.

The veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the right cheek is being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for further examination.

The veteran's death was caused by metastatic melanoma, which is not service-connected. The appellant does not meet the criteria for Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, COPD, melanoma, and thrombophlebitis were denied. The claim for an earlier effective date for schizophrenia was also denied.

The veteran's skin cancer, nausea and cramping of the stomach and intestinal area, bleeding of the rectal area, arthritis, internal hemorrhaging, nerve condition, diabetes mellitus, anemia, lung and/or respiratory condition, liver condition, gallbladder condition, restless bowel syndrome, and diverticulitis are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board denied service connection for skin cancer and cataracts claimed as secondary to radiation exposure during service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for depression, an itching condition, skin cancer, and refractive error and/or presbyopia (claimed as bad eyesight) have been denied. The Board found no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's active service or to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and missing medical records. The veteran's skin disorder may be related to service, but a VA examination is needed to determine if it began in service or is otherwise the result of a disease or injury in service. The veteran's gastric adenocarcinoma may also be related to exposure to ionizing radiation, but more information from Dr. Edwards is needed.

The veteran's claims for service connection for basal cell carcinoma and postoperative residuals of melanoma remain unresolved.,VA has not made a determination on whether these conditions are related to military service.