The Board denied service connection for skin cancer as there was no evidence of a diagnosis within the presumptive period and no continuity of symptomatology. The Veteran's current diagnoses were considered to be malignant tumors, but he did not have a diagnosis of a chronic disease such as skin cancer during service or within one year after separation.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence showed that the Veteran was not diagnosed with skin cancer until years after separation from service and there was no continuity of symptomatology. The Board found that his current diagnoses were considered to be malignant tumors, but he did not have a diagnosis of a chronic disease such as skin cancer during service or within one year after separation.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell cancer, basal cell cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 20, 2018
- Citation
- 1810854
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 1810854.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, hernia, left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and basal cell cancer. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to his active duty.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for squamous cell cancer and denied the claims for an earlier effective date, service connection for implanted cardiac pacemaker, and several other conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error regarding the adequacy of VA medical opinions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for neuropathy, a sinus disability, squamous cell cancer, and COPD due to the need for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
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