Skin cancer — all decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's skin cancers and his in-service herbicide exposure. A VA examination is needed to determine if there is a link.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for asthma and melanoma with scar, as they are related to presumed in-service exposure to herbicides. The cases have been sent back for VA examinations to determine if there is a relationship between the conditions and military service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a 10% rating for tinnitus are denied. The issues of service connection for basal cell carcinoma, peripheral neuropathy (left lower extremity), and peripheral neuropathy (right lower extremity) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for malignant melanoma, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and a higher rating for coronary artery disease. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for malignant melanoma, finding no evidence of exposure to ionizing radiation during service and insufficient medical evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C, human papilloma virus (HPV), a skin disorder to include skin cancer and penile cancer, a heart disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to incomplete records and procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete medical records and need for further examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for actinic keratosis and skin cancer is granted as the evidence shows a current disability, in-service incurrence of an injury (intense sun exposure), and a nexus between the claimed in-service injury and the present disability.

The Board denied service connection for prostate and skin cancers, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The Veteran's hypertension was not manifested during service and is not related to service.,The Veteran’s current disability rating of 10 percent for tinnitus is the highest schedular disability rating for tinnitus.

The claim of service connection for melanoma is denied. The claim of service connection for an eye/vision disability, prostate disability, diabetes mellitus, migraines, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies, thyroid disability, acquired psychiatric disability (including posttraumatic stress disorder and depression), and sleep apnea are remanded as new evidence has been received to reopen the claims.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and malignant skin neoplasms (skin cancer) are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year of service, nor are they linked to his military service.,The Veteran's enlarged prostate gland is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or within one year of service, nor is it linked to his military service.,The Veteran's histoplasmosis is remanded for further evaluation due to the lack of a current diagnosis and potential connection to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and salivary gland cancer due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran is also in need of a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer is denied as there is no recognized association between herbicide exposure and skin cancer. The claims for increased ratings of peripheral neuropathy are granted with initial ratings of 10 percent each prior to July 21, 2015, and subsequently rated at 40 percent each from that date onwards.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of frostbite on the left side of the Veteran's face, skin cancer of the left ear, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The conditions are found to be related to in-service events.

The Veteran's claims for left shoulder disability, skin cancer and skin problems, and bilateral hearing loss were denied.,An initial compensable rating of 10 percent was granted for bilateral hearing loss effective February 21, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome was denied in December 2002 and not reopened. The new evidence submitted does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to support the claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer was reopened due to a new study showing higher rates of non-melanoma invasive skin cancer among Veterans exposed to herbicide agents. However, no causal link between current disability and in-service exposure has been established.,The Veteran's claim for residuals of a right foot bone chip fracture remains denied as there is no new evidence relating to an unestablished fact necessary to support the claim.,Service connection for a right knee disability was not granted due to lack of evidence showing it is related to service-connected conditions or in-service exposure.,The Veteran's bilateral eye disability and gastroesophageal reflux disease were denied as they are neither proximately due to nor aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's neck disability is not service-connected as it did not occur in service and there is no evidence of a chronic condition. The current diagnosis is related to an on-the-job injury after separation from service.,The Veteran's basal cell skin cancer was diagnosed many years after service, and the VA examiner concluded that exposure to herbicides during service is not associated with causing this type of skin cancer.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the issue of service connection for skin cancer due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service. The cases will be reviewed again once this information is obtained.