Skin cancer — all decisions

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 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 claim for service connection for a skin disorder (melanoma) is remanded due to the need for an additional VA examination and etiology opinion.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a dental disorder and anxiety and PTSD are also remanded as he needs another VA examination to determine their current severity.

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.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and skin disease, including metastatic melanoma, due to outstanding VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability records. The Veteran was unable to attend VA examinations for his claimed conditions.

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 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 skin cancer is presumed due to herbicide exposure, but the Board cannot make a determination without further examination as basal cell carcinoma is not considered a presumptive disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have prostate cancer, but he has been diagnosed with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The issues of entitlement to service connection for chloracne and skin cancers are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of skin cancer, finding that there was no reasonable possibility that his skin cancer was caused by in-service exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD service connection is denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not file his claim until July 2012, which was after the date of his first treatment in April 2004.

The Board has denied service connection for skin cancer and heart bypass. The case is being remanded to obtain a proper medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's need for heart bypass surgery.

The Board dismissed the appeals of service connection for skin cancer on the lower lip, skin cancer on the right foot, and bilateral hearing loss as no substantive appeal was filed.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The Board also remanded several issues including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, DDD/DJD of the lumbar spine, erectile dysfunction, bilateral knee and leg disorders, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a pulmonary disorder, CAD, and skin cancer due to potential exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand. Additional research is needed to verify the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, dengue fever, skin cancer, and a right arm growth have all been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation during active service. The appellant must provide additional evidence of her net worth, income, and unreimbursed medical expenses.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted due to in-service exposure to loud noise. Service connection for malignant melanoma, presumed related to herbicide exposure, is also granted.,Service connection for an enlarged heart (hypertension) is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.