Skin cancer Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for skin cancer and increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's skin cancer claim is presumed due to in-service trauma, while his hearing loss claim remains at a noncompensable (zero percent) disability rating.

The claim for service connection for the cause of death has been reopened due to new evidence, but the veteran's terminal cancer is not considered service-connected. Dependents' Educational Assistance eligibility remains denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a change in the law and the need for additional development of his claims.

The veteran's right foot condition is rated as 10 percent for plantar warts. Service connection was denied for asbestosis and skin cancer.

The Board finds that the veteran's squamous cell skin cancers and cataracts are not etiologically related to his exposure to ionizing radiation in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for skin cancer and prostate cancer, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions. The claim for PTSD was also denied as the preponderance of the evidence showed that the veteran did not have PTSD.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for postoperative small bowel ischemic thrombosis with necrosis and granted a 40% evaluation for neurogenic bladder.

The VA denied an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for ciliochoroidal malignant melanoma of the right eye, status post gold implant.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder and skin cancer are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records. The Board will consider whether service connection can be established based on in-service trauma or sun exposure.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to metastatic melanoma, finding that there was no evidence linking the condition to service or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board found that the veteran's malignant melanoma with metastasis to the liver and lung did not contribute substantially or materially to cause his death, as there was no evidence linking it to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer due to exposure to ionizing radiation during service. The evidence now shows that the veteran was exposed to radioactive materials at Hanford, and his basal cell carcinomas are believed to be related to this exposure.

The Board is remanding the veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and skin cancer as secondary to exposure to ionizing radiation due to a lack of clarity in the dose estimate data provided by the Defense Nuclear Agency (DTRA). The Court instructed the Board to seek clarification from DTRA regarding the range of doses pertinent to the veteran's unit.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, skin cancer, and a skin rash. The decision found no diagnosed psychiatric or physical conditions during service, and there was insufficient evidence to link any current conditions to military service.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is the result of acoustic trauma during service and has been granted service connection. The left ankle disorder and skin cancer with a benign mole in the preauricular area are not found to be related to service.

The Board dismissed the claims of entitlement to service connection for a back disability and for skin cancer and a rash on the feet due to lack of timely appeal. The claim for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis in accordance with DSM-IV.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to malignant melanoma, finding that there was no evidence linking it to his military service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, alcohol abuse, a personality disorder, degenerative joint disease of the back, skin cancer of the arms and shoulders, partial removal of the liver and intestines, urinary bladder disorder, gall bladder disorder, prostate disorder, gunshot wound of the left hand and left ankle, and residuals of fractures of the ribs. The Board found that there was no confirmed diagnosis of a personality disorder in the record.

The veteran's skin cancer is determined to be due to radiation exposure during service, and the claim for service connection is granted.