The Veteran's cause of death was metastatic melanoma, which the Board found less likely than not incurred during or caused by his active service. The appeal is denied.
The deciding factor: The primary cause of death was metastatic melanoma, and there was no evidence to support a direct causal link between the cancer and the Veteran's active service.
- Claimed conditions
- metastatic melanoma, malignant pleural effusion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 29, 2019
- Citation
- 19132685
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for an adequate medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's principal causes of death were related to his service, specifically focusing on sun exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in obtained contract medical opinions, particularly regarding potential links between the Veteran's service and his death from metastatic melanoma. The examiner is required to address submitted literature and consider contributory causes of death as listed on the death certificate.
- Denied
The Veteran's cause of death was due to metastatic melanoma, which the Board found not related to his service-connected cold injury residuals. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for cause of death, esophageal carcinoma, malignant pleural effusion, and cardiopulmonary failure. The medical evidence did not support a link between these conditions and his military service.
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