The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for hidradenitis suppurativa prior to August 30, 2002, and denied a rating in excess of 60 percent from August 30, 2002.
The deciding factor: The veteran's hidradenitis suppurativa did not meet the criteria for higher ratings due to the lack of symptomatology analogous to active lupus vulgaris or gross distortion or asymmetry of three or more features or paired sets of features of 6 or more characteristics of disfigurement of the head, face or neck or systemic manifestations including fever, weight loss, and hypoproteinemia.
- Claimed conditions
- hidradenitis suppurativa (previously rated as recurrent cystic cellulitis), left axilla surgical scar, right axilla scars with painful limitation of motion of the right arm, post-surgical scarring of the rectum, scar, right inner thigh associated with hidradenitis suppurativa (previously rated as recurrent cystic cellulitis), right arm loss of motion associated with residuals of right axilla scars with painful limitation of motion of the right arm, bipolar disorder with psychosis and mood disorder associated with hidradenitis suppurativa (previously rated as recurrent cystic cellulitis), scar, left gluteal fold associated with hidradenitis suppurativa (previously rated as recurrent cystic cellulitis)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- January 16, 2009
- Citation
- 0902058
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,435 · Granted: 22% (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 0902058.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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.