Skin cancer Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development regarding the veteran's claim of service connection for skin cancer, including a determination on his exposure to ionizing radiation while guarding nuclear weapons during Operation REDWING.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, concluding that there was no convincing evidence to show that his self-inflicted gunshot wound was due to any disability incurred in service or otherwise related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and thus denied all of his claims for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue with metastasis, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and not related to Agent Orange exposure. The Board also determined that the veteran did not have a service-connected disability that contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board denied service connection for psoriatic arthritis and melanoma, finding no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left foot hallux valgus, low back disorder, and bilateral hip disorder are all service-connected. The skin cancer claim is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board found that the veteran's malignant melanoma of the chest wall was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred therein. The evidence did not demonstrate that the veteran had cancer of the breast and his claim for service connection based on exposure to ionizing radiation could not be granted.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of excision of a skin cancer of the right foot was denied as there is no evidence of functional impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and skin cancer/actinic keratoses of the head and neck, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic lung and/or respiratory disorder or skin condition that was incurred in service, including due to exposure to mustard and/or chlorine gas. The veteran's current conditions are not presumed by law.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing and clarifying representation status. The veteran's claims of service connection for skin disability other than dermatitis of the right hand, to include skin cancer, claimed due to exposure to ionizing radiation, are pending.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of service connection for additional skin cancers. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Board found that the veteran's multiple skin cancers were not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board has determined that the veteran's squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and nevus were not incurred or aggravated during active service, including exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange), and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation, finding that there was no evidence of such exposure during active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a laryngectomy, nicotine dependence, and skin cancers. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for a laryngectomy, and it was determined that nicotine dependence did not result from service or is no longer present, and skin cancers were not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, including arthritis; skin cancer; and prostate cancer, all of which were secondary to exposure to ionizing radiation. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his period of active service.

The Board found no evidence that the veteran's current skin disorders are related to service, including his inservice actinic keratosis. The preponderance of the evidence is against the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a malignant melanoma of the right foot, finding that it is not related to herbicide exposure in service and thus cannot be presumed or granted based on such exposure.