The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer of the left ear, right eyebrow, nose, left shoulder, and neck as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicides. The only diagnosed form of skin cancer was basal cell carcinoma found in 2005 on the left posterior neck.
The deciding factor: The Board concluded that the Veteran's skin cancer is not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide and sunlight, due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his service or any other factors.
- Claimed conditions
- skin cancer of the left ear, skin cancer of the right eyebrow, skin cancer of the nose, skin cancer of the left shoulder, skin cancer of the neck
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 15, 2010
- Citation
- 1009652
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1009652.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional research and development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to hazardous chemicals while stationed at Fort McLellan, which may be related to her skin cancer of the nose, erythematous rash, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, and osteoarthritis. The claims are being remanded for further examination and consideration.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for prostate, large intestine, small intestine, stomach, and skin cancers of the nose and other skin conditions due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic kidney disease, bladder cancer, and skin cancer of the nose due to potential service connection based on exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The Veteran is presumed exposed to Agent Orange during his service.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's initial ratings for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD were upheld. A TDIU was granted. The claims for erectile dysfunction and skin cancer of the neck (to include as secondary to Agent Orange exposure) were denied. Service connection for a low back disability was denied.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.