The Veteran's skin disability, characterized as hypertrophic actinic keratosis, superficially invasive well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, and compound dysplastic nevus with severe atypia, is granted. A compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 10, 2020 is denied. A 40 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss from December 10, 2020 through July 20, 2021 is granted. A rating in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss from July 21, 2021 is denied. An initial disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD to include anxiety and depression, effective November 3, 2016, is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's skin disability was found to have onset during service and is presumed due to exposure to herbicides based on his service in the Republic of Vietnam. The claim is granted as a result of this presumption.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertrophic actinic keratosis, superficially invasive well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, compound dysplastic nevus with severe atypia
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- May 31, 2022
- Citation
- 22031829
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 22031829.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's skin disabilities are being remanded for a VA examination to determine if they are related to his service, specifically exposure to Agent Orange. The case will be returned to the Board after the examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and private treatment records from Lake Sunapee VNA & Hospice and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, hypertrophic actinic keratosis, skin cancer (general), Barrett's esophagus, and fractured vertebrae, lumbar spine. The appeal is not about service connection at all.
- Denied
The Board found no evidence of radiation exposure during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection due to lack of a nexus between his skin conditions and active duty.
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