The Veteran's claim for service connection for multiple skin conditions, including malignant melanoma and other dermatological issues, is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding the nature and etiology of his skin disorders. The issue centers on whether these conditions are related to his presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: The claim requires a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current skin conditions and his presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service.
- Claimed conditions
- malignant melanoma, dysplastic nevi, sebaceous cysts, seborrheic keratosis, benign neoplasms
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 5, 2010
- Citation
- 1008202
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 1008202.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for seborrheic keratosis and seborrheic dermatitis for further development, specifically to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the synergistic effect of all the Veteran's TERAs during his active-duty service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for malignant melanoma as due to UV exposure and sinonasal skull base poorly differentiated carcinoma as due to chemical exposures of TCE, benzene, and asbestos.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for malignant melanoma and sinonasal skull base poorly differentiated carcinoma due to herbicide exposure, as VA opinions regarding their etiology are needed.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a skin disorder diagnosed as seborrheic keratosis, and increased the rating for ischemic heart disease (IHD) to 60 percent from June 8, 2021. Other claims were denied.
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