The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to metastatic malignant melanoma and hepatic failure, which the VA medical opinions suggest were not caused by service or within one year following discharge. The appellant argued for presumptive service connection based on Agent Orange exposure, but the VA medical opinions found this unlikely.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's metastatic malignant melanoma and hepatic failure were incurred in service or due to Agent Orange exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Metastatic Malignant Melanoma, Hepatic Failure
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 24, 2010
- Citation
- 1011152
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 1011152.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's prostate cancer was caused by his service-connected varicocele. The cause of death is also under consideration.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70% rating prior to July 8, 2013. A higher rating for PTSD beginning July 8, 2013 is denied. The case is remanded for further evaluation of the Veteran's metastatic malignant melanoma and its relation to service, including Agent Orange exposure.
- Denied
The Board found that the cause of the Veteran's death was not caused by VA hospital care, medical or surgical treatment, nor did it find fault on the part of VA. The appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hepatic failure, and liver cancer were not service-connected due to lack of evidence in his service records. The Board determined that these conditions did not have a direct link to his military service.
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