The Veteran's claim for service connection for malignant melanoma is being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence, specifically his January 2024 hearing testimony regarding multiple instances of sunburn in service. The Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine if any diagnosed skin condition is causally related to active service, including as due to sun exposure, UV radiation, or other exposures within the scope of his service-related duties.
The deciding factor: The new evidence includes the Veteran's January 2024 hearing testimony regarding multiple instances of sunburn in service. The Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine if any diagnosed skin condition is causally related to active service, including as due to sun exposure and UV radiation.
- Claimed conditions
- Malignant melanoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 30, 2024
- Citation
- A24022133
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 A24022133.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent evaluation for residuals of malignant melanoma with BCC and SCC was granted. However, the claims for compensable ratings for scars associated with these conditions were denied.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for malignant melanoma, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between the current diagnosis and active service.
- Granted
The Veteran's malignant melanoma is granted service connection, with the claim being considered presumptive due to exposure to burn pits during his deployment in Iraq.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and remanded claims for service connection for malignant melanoma, lung cancer, kidney disability, hypertension, and TDIU.
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