Skin cancer — all decisions

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of his claims as he is deceased.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and skin cancer due to exposure to ionizing radiation prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and increased evaluations for pes planus and anxiety reaction, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for actinic keratosis and a blood dyscrasia as resulting from exposure to ionizing radiation, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions in service or within one year post-service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a shrapnel wound to the right knee and excision of melanoma due to exposure to Agent Orange. The veteran's claim for residuals of a shrapnel wound to the right knee was not supported by medical evidence of a current disability, while his claim for excision of melanoma was denied as there is no direct service connection or new and material evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's pulmonary metastases were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may their incurrence during service be presumed due to Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hemorrhoids, chills, exposure to leeches on the stomach and legs, shrapnel wounds to the arm and legs, malaria, head injury, skin cancer, and tinea pedis (jungle rot of the feet), were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and evidence.

The case is being remanded to the RO for a VA examination to assess muscle damage and assign appropriate disability ratings. The veteran's claim remains pending.

The Board found no additional disability associated with the veteran's malignant melanoma as a result of VA treatment, and thus denied his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for basal cell carcinoma, status post excision of melanoma, and an earlier effective date for dermatitis. The decision also addressed his claim for increased ratings for dermatitis.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition, including squamous cell skin cancer and prurigo nodularis, is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding service connection for skin cancers, including as due to exposure in service to Agent Orange. The appellant was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam and developed skin cancers in 1998-99. The Secretary of VA has indicated that a presumption of service connection based upon exposure to herbicides used in Vietnam is not warranted for any form of skin cancer. A medical opinion is needed to determine the relationship between the appellant's post-service skin cancers and his exposure to Agent Orange or solar radiation.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary due to inconsistencies in the veteran's flight records and dose estimates, as well as recent treatment records for skin cancer. The claim will be remanded for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between the veteran's skin cancers and his service.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death was metastatic malignant melanoma, which is not service-connected. The right knee disorder, if present, did not contribute to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to herbicide exposure, including a respiratory disorder and skin cancer. Additional development is required before these claims can be fully reviewed.

The veteran's death was not service-connected, but he had been continuously rated as totally disabled for a period of at least ten years immediately preceding his death. As such, DIC benefits were denied.

The Board found that the veteran's skin cancer was not incurred in service and is not related to herbicide exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher (compensable) rating for residuals of excision of skin cancer of the right foot.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of exposure to ionizing radiation in service. The appellant must be advised of her responsibilities regarding medical evidence and VA will make reasonable efforts to obtain relevant records.