The Veteran's residuals of skin cancer and mild interstitial changes are found to be incurred as a result of sun exposure in service for the former, and asbestos exposure in service for the latter. Service connection is granted for both conditions.
The deciding factor: Service records show no post-service occupational asbestos exposure but indicate possible pre-service sun damage from tropical environments during service which contributed to current skin cancer residuals and interstitial changes.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of skin cancer, mild interstitial changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 26, 2017
- Citation
- 1702053
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 1702053.
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 claim for service connection for skin cancer and residuals of skin cancer, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and skin cancer due to herbicide exposure. The claims are being returned for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and verifying surgical procedures.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for hypertension, Parkinsonism, residuals of skin cancer, actinic keratosis, and non-specific dermatitis based on the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during active military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of residuals of skin cancer to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's basal cell skin cancer is related to active-duty service, including in-service exposure to sunlight.
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