Melanoma

During active systemic treatment, the key evidence is documentation confirming the type of treatment you received — records showing systemic chemotherapy, radiation extending beyond the skin, or surgery more extensive than wide local excision. Oncology notes, operative reports, radiation treatment records, and pharmacy or infusion records all speak directly to this threshold. After treatment ends, evidence shifts to your residuals. For scars not on the head, face, or neck, exam findings recording the total surface area of scarring, whether underlying soft tissue is damaged, and whether scars are unstable (meaning skin over them breaks down frequently) or painful are central. For scars on the head, face, or neck, unretouched color photographs are explicitly considered, along with exam findings documenting tissue loss, distortion or asymmetry of facial features, and specific scar characteristics such as width, length, pigmentation changes, abnormal texture, and skin that is adherent or indurated. Your own statements describing pain, skin breakdown, and how these residuals affect your daily activities and work can support the picture shown by clinical findings.