The Board has granted service connection for malignant melanoma of the right wrist/forearm and any associated scars, finding that the Veteran's condition manifested within one year after discharge from active service.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows a possible in-service lesion noted in October 2012, with photographs indicating the mass was present as early as August 2013 (within five months of service separation), and medical treatise evidence suggesting misdiagnosis of melanoma in African American males. The Board resolved doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- malignant melanoma of the right wrist/forearm, scars associated with malignant melanoma of the right wrist/forearm
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- June 14, 2022
- Citation
- 22034695
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 22034695.
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.
- Granted
The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Granted
Service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is granted. The appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
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