Citation Nr: 18140450 Decision Date: 10/03/18 Archive Date: 10/03/18 DOCKET NO. 15-11 938 DATE: October 3, 2018 ORDER Entitlement to service connection for a skin disorder, including eczema, of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is granted. Entitlement to service connection for basal cell carcinoma of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is granted. Entitlement to service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the neck is granted. FINDINGS OF FACT 1. The evidence is at least in equipoise with regard to showing that the Veteran’s skin disorder, including eczema, is associated with his service. 2. The evidence is at least in equipoise with regard to showing that the Veteran’s basal cell carcinoma is associated with his service. 3. The evidence is at least in equipoise with regard to showing that the Veteran’s squamous cell carcinoma is associated with his service. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW 1. The criteria for service connection for a skin disorder, including eczema, of the bilateral upper and lower extremities have been met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 5107 (2012); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303 (2017). 2. The criteria for service connection for basal cell carcinoma of the bilateral upper and lower extremities have been met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 5107 (2012); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303 (2017). 3. The criteria for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the neck have been met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 5107 (2012); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303 (2017). REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS The Veteran served on active duty from January 1965 to October 1968. He served honorably in the United States Air Force, including as a security policeman in Vietnam. The Board thanks the Veteran for his service to our country. This matter comes to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a September 2011 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Oakland, California. In May 2018, the Veteran testified at a videoconference Board hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. A transcript of that hearing is of record. Service Connection Service connection is warranted where the evidence of record establishes that a particular injury or disease resulting in disability was incurred in the line of duty in the active military service or, if pre-existing such service, was aggravated thereby. See 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131; 38 C.F.R. § 3.303 (a). Generally, in order to prove service connection, there must be competent, credible evidence of (1) a current disability, (2) in-service incurrence or aggravation of an injury or disease, and (3) a nexus, or link, between the current disability and the in-service disease or injury. See, e.g., Davidson v. Shinseki, 581 F.3d 1313 (Fed. Cir. 2009). Entitlement to service connection for a skin disorder, including eczema, of the bilateral upper and lower extremities; entitlement to service connection for basal cell carcinoma of the bilateral upper and lower extremities; and entitlement to service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the neck Here, VA medical records dated July 2014 show the Veteran has current diagnoses of eczema, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. The Veteran contends that his skin conditions are due to Agent Orange (AO) exposure while he was serving in Vietnam and the September 2011 rating decision acknowledged the Veteran’s service on the ground in Vietnam and AO exposure. See 38 C.F.R. § 3.307 (a)(6)(iii). Although in March 2015 a VA physician assistant issued a negative nexus opinion as to a skin disorder, including eczema, and in July 2011 a VA examiner issued a negative nexus opinion as to basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, in May 2018 the Veteran’s private dermatologist opined that his current ongoing skin conditions, including eczema, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma, are more likely than not due to herbicide agent exposure in-service. The dermatologist’s opinion was supported by rationale, to include consideration of the Veteran’s medical records, service history, and status   as a patient since 2011. The Board finds that the evidence is, at least, in relative equipoise. Accordingly, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, service connection is granted. M. C. GRAHAM Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD T. Fales, Associate Counsel