The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae has been denied, while the Veteran is now entitled to service connection for chronic cephalgia and increased ratings for his knee and back disabilities.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established for chronic cephalgia due to its onset during active duty service or being etiologically related. The Veteran's skin disability did not meet criteria for a compensable rating as it affected less than 5% of the entire body and exposed areas, with no systemic therapy required.
- Claimed conditions
- pseudofolliculitis barbae, chronic cephalgia, strain, left knee with degenerative changes, strain, right knee with degenerative changes, degenerative changes, thoracolumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- December 17, 2020
- Citation
- A20018795
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 A20018795.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae as the Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae and a sleep disability, claimed as sleep apnea, due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, as it is unclear whether the Veteran's claimed conditions are due to any incident of his period of active service.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, left foot swelling/pain, a left ankle condition, and tinnitus.
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