The veteran's skin disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service, including as a result of exposure to Agent Orange.
The deciding factor: No medical evidence linked the veteran's current xerosis (dry skin) to his active military service, either directly or in relation to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.
- Claimed conditions
- skin disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 3, 2009
- Citation
- 0903801
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.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and a skin disorder due to an improper concurrent election. The effective dates for the lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathies, and TDIU were denied as they did not meet the criteria for earlier effective dates.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a skin disorder, and a sleep disorder, as well as an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for cystitis, due to the need for further development.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent rating for left foot injury residuals and left foot strain, but denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for hand/finger strains and service connection for a skin disorder.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for tinnitus, corneal scar of the right eye with cataract and pinguecula, and PTSD, but remanded a claim for service connection for a skin disorder.
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.