The Veteran's service-connected skin disabilities (psuedofolliculitis barbae and acne keloidalis nuchae) were combined to enable a higher, 30 percent, rating. Sleep apnea was found to be incurred in service, while the other claims for weight gain and left knee disability were denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's skin disabilities met the criteria for a 30% rating after August 30, 2002 due to visible or palpable tissue loss and gross distortion of one feature. Sleep apnea was found to be incurred in service based on medical evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- psuedofolliculitis barbae, acne keloidalis nuchae, sleep apnea, weight gain, left knee disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- March 5, 2009
- Citation
- 0908259
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 service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and no competent evidence linking the condition to service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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