The veteran's service-connected hidradenitis suppurativa requires topical and antibacterial therapy, but that therapy is not equivalent to systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs. The active manifestations of the disability involve less than 20 percent of the entire body and less than 20 percent of exposed areas of the body, and are not manifested by permanent gross distortion or asymmetry of one feature or a paired set of features.
The deciding factor: The veteran's hidradenitis suppurativa was characterized at least 50 percent of the time by exudation or ulceration requiring surgical drainage or excision, warranting a 30 percent evaluation under the revised criteria for skin disorders effective August 30, 2002.
- Claimed conditions
- hidradenitis suppurativa
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- February 22, 2006
- Citation
- 0605013
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal of the claim for service connection for hidradenitis suppurativa was dismissed due to a failure to follow claims processing rules.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an increased rating for hidradenitis suppurativa and granted service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, but remanded the claim for sleep apnea due to a need for additional evidence.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of June 27, 2018, for the grant of a 60 percent rating for service-connected dissecting cellulitis, scalp, with hidradenitis suppurativa.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of June 27, 2018, for the grant of a 60 percent rating for service-connected dissecting cellulitis, scalp, with hidradenitis suppurativa.
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