The Board denied service connection for malignant melanoma of the chest wall, sometimes claimed as breast cancer due to exposure to ionizing radiation in service. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral external otitis and hearing loss secondary to service-connected bilateral external otitis was also denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding that the appellant's malignant melanoma of the chest wall was related to his military service or exposure to ionizing radiation in service. The bilateral hearing loss claim was found to be unrelated to service and service-connected conditions, while the external otitis condition was primarily due to itching and dryness.
- Claimed conditions
- malignant melanoma of the chest wall
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 22, 2006
- Citation
- 0608315
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.