Skin cancer — all decisions

The Board has denied service connection for skin cancer and remanded the issues of service connection for left knee and left shoulder disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of a malignant melanoma cancer disorder due to potential exposure to ionizing radiation during active duty. The case will be referred to the Under Secretary for Benefits under 38 C.F.R. § 3.311.

The appeal for service connection of skin cancer is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and a need for further evidence regarding service connection for skin cancer, including whether it is related to herbicide exposure or secondary to a service-connected fungal condition.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a lack of compliance with previous remand directives regarding dermatology and podiatry examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and neurofibroma, both claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure. The case is sent back for additional development including obtaining a medical opinion on whether these conditions are due to the Veteran's presumed in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an intestinal condition and skin cancer due to outstanding treatment records not yet obtained. The Veteran is also being asked to provide additional information regarding his sun exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and a skin disability due to exposure to herbicide agents as there is insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran served in Vietnam but his service treatment records are inconsistent with his claim of having tinea corporis (ringworm) during service.

The Board granted service connection for malignant melanoma, finding that the Veteran's role as a firefighter increased his risk and played a causative role in his diagnosis. The percentage of inservice contribution versus post-service contribution to the diagnosis cannot be determined.

The Veteran's BPH was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's Peyronie's disease was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's skin disorder, including actinic keratosis, seborrheic keratosis, rosacea, was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's COPD was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer) was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and verifying herbicide exposure. An addendum medical opinion is needed to address whether the Veteran's neck condition is related to his active service or caused by or aggravated by military service, as well as whether it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including malignant melanoma, lymphoma, tinnitus, obesity, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss disability, peripheral neuropathy of the left and right feet, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and sleep apnea have all been denied. The denial is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any other relevant factor.

Service connection for porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is granted, and an initial rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is granted. Service connection for kidney cancer is dismissed.

Service connection for skin cancer (melanoma) and renal cancer is granted.,The Veteran's gall bladder disability resulting in a cholecystectomy remains on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease, skin cancer, and cerebrovascular accident with residuals of left side weakness were denied as there was no evidence to support the presence of these conditions during or related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, bilateral upper and lower extremity arthritis, respiratory condition other than a deviated septum, and skin cancer due to cold injury in Korea. The claims are being remanded for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for skin disabilities, including skin cancer and seborrheic keratosis, as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for melanoma, concluding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for full-body osteoarthritis, benign prostatic hypertrophy, skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma), bilateral upper extremity and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are all denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or link to service.,There is no diagnosis of full-body osteoarthritis found in the record. The Veteran did not have any symptoms or injuries during service that could be linked to present arthritis.

The Board has determined that there is at least a 50% chance (equipoise) that the Veteran's metastatic melanoma of the lungs was related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.