The veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected neurodermatitis was denied as the condition does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. The SMC claim for his spouse due to her need for aid and attendance was also denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examination showed that the veteran’s skin disorder involved less than 40% of his body surface, which did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under the applicable diagnostic code.
- Claimed conditions
- neurodermatitis, lichen simplex chronicus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- December 6, 2006
- Citation
- 0637860
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 325 · Granted: 20% (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 0637860.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinion and failure to consider the Veteran's in-service chemical exposure. The Veteran's skin conditions are related to service, but a TERA opinion is needed.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lichen simplex chronicus and prurigo, resolving reasonable doubt in the Appellant's favor.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a skin disability, to include neurodermatitis, for an adequate VA examination and opinions.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for neurodermatitis as the evidence did not support that the disability affected more than 5 percent of his body or required intermittent systemic therapy.
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