The Board has granted service connection for alopecia areata (claimed as hair loss) and found that the veteran's current skin disorder is related to his Persian Gulf War service.
The deciding factor: The VA examination confirmed the presence of a recurrent, reversible patchy hair loss disorder diagnosed as alopecia areata in service. The Board also concluded that the veteran's current skin disorder was likely caused by exposure to environmental hazards during his Persian Gulf War service.
- Claimed conditions
- Hair loss, Skin loss and bumps on the head, Breathing problems, Aching joints, Fatigue, Chest tightness, Left-sided rib pain
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 11, 2003
- Citation
- 0319879
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0319879.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 100 percent is not warranted.,Service connection for a back disability, fatigue, and sleep apnea are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA as secondary to his service-connected restrictive lung disease has been granted.,The issue of entitlement to service connection for fatigue is being remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is related to combat in service and granted service connection.,The Veteran does not have hypertension for VA purposes, thus denial of service connection.,The Veteran's fatigue is attributed to his service-connected fibromyalgia, obstructive sleep apnea, and PTSD, resulting in denial of service connection.,Service connection for hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are dismissed due to the Veteran explicitly withdrawing his appeal.,Service connection for a disability manifesting in memory loss other than an acquired psychological disorder is denied as it overlaps with PTSD.,Service connection for myofascial pain syndrome is denied as it overlaps with fibromyalgia.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's hair loss and some other conditions are granted service connection, while the right hand disability is denied. The Veteran also has a new rating for his low back condition.
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