The Veteran's low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and is not etiologically related to service.,Prior to November 5, 2015, the Veteran's PFB was manifested by subjective complaints of irritation with or without shaving, itching, and stinging; objective findings reflect treatment with topical medication and involvement of a body area of less than five percent.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support direct service connection for the low back disorder. The Veteran's first complaints related to his back were not linked to his military service, and there is no established continuity of symptomatology or one-year presumption supporting a grant of service connection.,For PFB prior to November 5, 2015, the evidence does not show involvement of at least 5 percent but less than 20 percent of the entire body or exposed areas. The Veteran used topical treatment and had minor scarring, which did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Low Back Disorder, Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 7, 2018
- Citation
- 1813664
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 1813664.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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 initial noncompensable rating for PFB is denied as the condition did not manifest through scarring or disfigurement during the appeal period.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection of chronic fatigue syndrome and vertigo are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The PFB claim is denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.
- Granted
Service connection for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) is granted. The appeal of a deferral of service connection for PFB is dismissed.
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