The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for porphyria cutanea tarda with lichen planus was denied as the condition did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The issue of service connection for claudication of the lower extremities with numbness is referred to the RO for further development.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's porphyria cutanea tarda and lichen planus do not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating as they do not affect at least five percent of his entire body or exposed areas, nor have they required intermittent systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs for a total duration of less than six weeks during the past 12-month period.
- Claimed conditions
- porphyria cutanea tarda, lichen planus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 22, 2009
- Citation
- 0923348
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 0923348.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for porphyria cutanea tarda, finding that it manifested within one year of his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The appeal is granted.
- Dismissed
The Board denied the veteran's appeal for timely filing of an appeal request, dismissing the attempted appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for an additional addendum opinion to determine whether any associated exceptional or unusual disability is associated with the Veteran's porphyria cutanea tarda.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claims for an earlier effective date and a higher initial rating for bipolar disorder, as well as the claim for a higher rating for lichen planus, due to the fact that these issues were not properly before the Board.
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