The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, including benign nevi, basal cell skin cancer, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The AOJ must obtain private medical records and provide the Veteran with an addendum opinion from a qualified clinician.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's opinions were found to be inadequate as they did not address the Veteran's lay statements regarding his skin issues since service, nor whether his current treatment for basal cell cancer and MRSA is related to his in-service treatment for recurrent skin infections.
- Claimed conditions
- benign nevi, basal cell skin cancer, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 17, 2022
- Citation
- 22029161
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 22029161.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
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 claim for service connection for basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer to obtain a VA opinion and examination, as required by the PACT Act due to the Veteran's participation in a toxic exposure risk activity during service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for basal cell skin cancer and squamous cell carcinoma, finding no evidence of a link between the Veteran's current cancers and his military service or in-service chemical exposures.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for basal cell skin cancer, finding no evidence of a direct causal relationship between the condition and his military service, including exposure to herbicides.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for basal cell skin cancer, hypertension, malignant melanoma, and residuals of cholecystectomy and partial colon resection for diverticular bleed has been withdrawn by the appellant.
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