The Veteran's skin disability, including rashes, xerosis, inverted follicular keratosis, squamous dysplasia, actinic keratosis, lesions, and soft tissue sarcoma (skin cancer), is presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam. His coronary heart disease, PTSD, and individual unemployability are also considered based on the presumptive exposure to herbicides.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's skin disability is presumed to have been caused by his military service due to exposure to herbicide agents used during his service in Vietnam.
- Claimed conditions
- skin disability, rashes, xerosis, inverted follicular keratosis, squamous dysplasia, actinic keratosis, lesions, soft tissue sarcoma (skin cancer)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 5, 2017
- Citation
- 1715249
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 1715249.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's skin disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his condition, including whether it is related to service or toxic exposure risk activities. The Veteran also needs to provide authorization forms for private treatment records.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for actinic keratosis, finding that his condition had its onset during active duty and is related to exposure to harmful sun while deployed in Afghanistan.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and actinic keratosis as the appeal is considered duplicative of a previous decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's skin disability, including his exposure to herbicides while serving in Korea. The AOJ is required to obtain University of Michigan medical records and prepare an Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record for the Veteran.
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