Skin cancer — all decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current skin conditions are related to his service, including exposure to sun and Agent Orange.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD has been withdrawn. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is not service-connected due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents and no evidence of chronicity in service.,The retina disability is not service-connected as it is not secondary to a service-connected condition or related to an in-service injury or disease.,Bladder cysts are not service-connected as there was no evidence of chronicity in service, nor any connection to herbicide exposure.,Prostate cancer is not service-connected due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents and no evidence of chronicity in service.,Skin cancer is not service-connected due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents and no evidence of chronicity in service.,Vitiligo is not service-connected as there was no evidence of chronicity in service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a bilateral shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, basal cell skin cancer, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is also remanded for additional development regarding sleep apnea and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is service-connected as secondary to his prostate cancer. His cardiovascular disorder and lung conditions are denied, with the exception of COPD which remains under review due to potential exposure to herbicides. The essential tremor and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities remain under review for possible service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board found that the Veteran's sun exposure during his military service may have contributed to his development of skin cancer, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left leg brace, skin cancer of the ears, and left leg deep vein thromboses are denied. The claim for rheumatoid arthritis is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding its etiology. The claim for left leg neurological disability (drop foot) is also remanded.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's skin cancer is granted service connection, but his left elbow scar remains denied. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to sun and thus conceded presumptive exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for malignant melanoma and a disfiguring scar, right lower back. The Veteran contends that his conditions are related to military service, specifically sun exposure in service.

The Veteran's lung disability, skin cancer, brain aneurysms and their residuals, and psychiatric disabilities are all remanded for further development. The VA is required to provide a medical examination if the information and evidence of record does not contain sufficient competent medical evidence to decide the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's malignant melanoma is at least as likely as not related to herbicide exposure in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for melanoma, finding that new and material evidence was not received within one year of the September 2012 denial.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings for service-connected scars of his cheeks and lower back due to incomplete development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer due to sun exposure, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for malignant melanomas, including as due to in-service exposure to ionizing radiation. The decision is based on a finding that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's condition to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a skin disability. The claim for a skin disability was reopened due to new evidence showing a possible link to service. Service connection is also granted for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, heart valve disorder, hypertension, skin cancer, and enlarged neck glands. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection due to lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and malignant melanoma, as these conditions are presumed to be due to in-service exposure to herbicides. However, the VA examiner found that the diagnosed skin disabilities were not related to in-service herbicide exposure because they are not among the list of diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure.