The Veteran's melanoma was not present during service or for many years thereafter, is not among the identified conditions associated with exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service, and is not otherwise etiologically related to service. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's melanoma did not manifest during service or for several decades thereafter, and there is no scientific or medical evidence linking it to his service.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of malignant melanoma
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 9, 2016
- Citation
- 1618593
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1618593.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral pes planus, and residuals of malignant melanoma. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disability, right ankle disability, prostate cancer, and TDIU prior to March 29, 2019 were remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of service connection for residuals of malignant melanoma, as well as SMC based on a single disability.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's skin disability (residuals of malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma) is granted on a direct basis due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in the Republic of Vietnam.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for residuals of malignant melanoma. The TDIU claim is remanded as the RO needs to assign a rating and effective date for this condition.
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