The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities. The claim for service connection for PFB is reopened, but the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD remains remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims were previously denied due to lack of current evidence of a disability, but new VA treatment records show that he has a current diagnosis of PFB. The Board found that this raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for service connection for PFB. However, the issue of service connection for PTSD remains remanded as there are unverified stressors and other psychiatric diagnoses need to be considered.
- Claimed conditions
- Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB), Acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19156797
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 19156797.
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 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.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for sinus bradycardia is dismissed. The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and bilateral hearing loss.
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