The Veteran's initial rating for vitiligo is being remanded due to the AOJ only considering former Diagnostic Code 7806, and not DCs 7800 or 7801 as requested by the Veteran's attorney.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on incorrect application of the criteria for rating skin disabilities effective before August 30, 2002, and requires consideration of former Diagnostic Codes 7800 and 7801.
- Claimed conditions
- vitiligo
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19106017
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for vitiligo has been withdrawn by the Veteran.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for vitiligo and gastrointestinal disability, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, right hand disability, left hand disability, and other knee and ankle disabilities. The decision also addressed the rating of PTSD.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 10 percent disability rating for allergic rhinitis and denied increased ratings for vitiligo, bilateral pes planus, right great toe gout, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's dry eye syndrome is granted service connection due to an in-service injury. Several other claims for service connection are remanded.
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