The Veteran's folliculitis, low back disability, chronic right ankle sprain disability, and left hand/thumb disability are all found to be service-connected. The Veteran's right thumb disability is not service-connected. A rating in excess of 10 percent for the scar from head surgery is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has a history of folliculitis during service, which was diagnosed on VA examination and confirmed by his current symptoms. His low back condition is found to be related to an injury in service, with no evidence of chronicity since separation. The left knee disability is not shown to have been present in service or within one year post-service. The right thumb disability has no documented history in service. The scar from head surgery meets the criteria for a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7804.
- Claimed conditions
- folliculitis, low back disability (degenerative joint disease of L5-S1 with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy), left knee disability, chronic right ankle sprain disability, left hand/thumb disability, right thumb disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- October 26, 2017
- Citation
- 1748045
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 1748045.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral knee and hip disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the July 2012 VA examination for the Veteran's left knee disability, and a new addendum opinion is needed.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as these issues have been addressed in a separate docket.
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