The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of death and DIC benefits, finding that there was no evidence linking the Veteran’s death to his active service. The Board concluded that the cause of death (metastatic melanoma) was not related to any disability incurred or aggravated during service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the lung disability did not have a causal relationship with the Veteran's active service, including herbicide agent exposure, and that it was unrelated to the cause of death (metastatic melanoma).
- Claimed conditions
- Metastatic melanoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20033541
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 20033541.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain an adequate opinion regarding the cause of death and its relation to service, including in-service dental treatment. The Veteran died from acute renal failure, metastatic melanoma, cerebral metastasis, or seizure disorder.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore DIC benefits are denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that ischemic heart disease and metastatic melanoma were related to his active duty service. The Board concluded that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in-service, presumptively causing his ischemic heart disease, and also found a causal relationship between his sun exposure during service and his fatal melanoma.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's malignant (metastatic) melanoma, which caused his death in March 2013, is service-connected due to exposure to herbicides and a significant sunburn during service. The decision grants the claim for cause of death.
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