The veteran's skin conditions, including squamous cell carcinoma and actinic keratoses, are presumed to be related to mustard gas exposure at Camp Blanding. However, the full-body exposure required for presumptive service connection has not been established.
The deciding factor: Full-body exposure to mustard gas is necessary for VA regulation providing for presumptive service connection for squamous cell carcinoma based on chronic effects of exposure to mustard gas to apply.
- Claimed conditions
- proliferative Bowen's disease, squamous cell carcinoma of the left cheek, actinic keratoses of the hands, right temple, and right ear, seborrheic keratoses of the right chest, nonmalignant hemangioma of the right forearm, lichenoid keratosis, rule out basal cell carcinoma of the right flank
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 27, 2004
- Citation
- 0423901
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0423901.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's facial scars are related to in-service exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange. The Board granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the left cheek and basal cell carcinoma of the right nasolabial crease and left upper lip.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma of the left cheek are related to his service, including exposure to sunlight during his time in Vietnam. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for residuals of squamous cell carcinoma of the left cheek and assigned a compensable rating for skin cancer excision, right mid-lateral back/right back and left upper back. The claim for skin cancer excision, left frontal scalp/left temple at hairline is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the left cheek is related to service, and thus granted his claim for service connection.
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