The Veteran's claim of service connection for skin lesions, including malignant skin neoplasms is being remanded due to the need for a new VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between his in-service exposure and post-service skin disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Board requested an opinion addressing the impact of in-service gas exposure on the Veteran's current skin conditions but did not receive one. The Veteran claims he was exposed to chemicals during basic training, which may have contributed to his current skin disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- skin lesions, malignant skin neoplasms
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 1, 2020
- Citation
- 20044281
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 20044281.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
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: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition, finding that there is not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence to support the claim. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's skin conditions are less likely than not related to his in-service exposure.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for adjustment disorder with depression, insomnia, and anxiety as secondary to service-connected tinnitus but denied an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and an increased rating for tinnitus. The remaining claims were remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including headaches, nervous condition, skin lesions, sleep apnea, and heart condition/atrial fibrillation, to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a dermatological condition, to include skin lesions, actinic keratoses, and chronic melanoma, for further development of evidence related to in-service toxic exposures.
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