The Board has granted service connection for basal cell carcinoma, finding it etiologically linked to sun exposure during military service. Service connection was also granted for a low back disability, with the opinion that it is at least as likely as not related to service due to heavy lifting in service.
The deciding factor: The VA Chief of Dermatology found that the Veteran's tropical sun exposure during service and reported sunburns from his tours in Vietnam contributed to the development of basal cell carcinoma. The VA orthopedist opined that the Veteran's lumbar spondylosis is at least as likely as not related to service due to heavy lifting.
- Claimed conditions
- Basal cell carcinoma, Low back disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 13, 2013
- Citation
- 1305311
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 1305311.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected low back disability alone does not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hip disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluation and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to address the severity of his low back disability, including whether he has experienced incapacitating episodes of IVDS.
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