The Board finds that the Veteran's skin disability, including recurrent folliculitis and cysts of the right ear lobe, is related to his service, particularly as secondary to his service-connected bilateral otitis externa. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.
The deciding factor: The medical expert opinion considered the evidence of record, including the Veteran's treatment history, and concluded that it is unlikely that the sebaceous cyst excision in 1964 was related to his current recurrent folliculitis diagnosis. However, the Board found further development unnecessary as the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the otitis externa caused or aggravated the right ear lobe disability.
- Claimed conditions
- recurrent folliculitis, cysts of the right ear lobe, residuals of cysts of the right ear lobe
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 26, 2017
- Citation
- 1742463
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 1742463.
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.
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- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected recurrent folliculitis warrants a 10 percent rating, effective March 30, 2011. The issue of service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy is remanded due to insufficient evidence.
- Granted
The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim of service connection for a skin condition, including acne keloidis nuchae with androgenous alopecia. The Veteran's current skin disorder is not etiologically related to his active service or exposure to herbicides.
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