The Veteran's MDD is rated at 70 percent, and his PFB with scars affecting the face is rated at 30 percent. The Veteran also received separate ratings for painful or unstable scars of PFB. Additionally, he was granted TDIU.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran's MDD manifested as frequent depression, anxiety, and impairment in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 9434. For his PFB with scars affecting the face, the Board found that it met the criteria for a 30 percent rating based on visible or palpable tissue loss and gross distortion of two features or paired sets of features.
- Claimed conditions
- Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- September 2, 2015
- Citation
- 1537638
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 1537638.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
- Granted
The Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is found to have begun during their active duty service and continues to this day, meeting the criteria for service connection.
- Dismissed
The appeal to revise the effective date for a 50% disability rating for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) is dismissed because the July 2024 proposed rating decision was not an appealable determination.
- Denied
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder with TBI is rated at 70 percent, but the appeal for a higher rating is denied.
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