The Board granted service connection for residuals of melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and depressive disorder, secondary to service-connected tinnitus.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports a nexus between the Veteran's skin cancer and ultraviolet radiation exposure during military service, as well as a relationship between his depressive disorder and service-connected tinnitus.
- Claimed conditions
- Depressive disorder, secondary to service-connected tinnitus, Residuals of melanoma, Residuals of squamous cell carcinoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25032959
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,772 · Granted: 37% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A25032959.
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 has granted service connection for Parkinson's disease and a low back disorder, but the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and a skin disorder remain pending.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed liver disability and residuals of melanoma. The Veteran is advised to report for any scheduled examinations.
- Denied
The Board denied increased disability ratings for the veteran's skin conditions affecting his face, neck, and ears, as well as his upper back, chest, and forearms. The evidence did not support a higher rating based on disfigurement or extensive lesions.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.