The Veteran's service-connected nummular eczema (claimed as lichen planus) warrants a higher rating than the noncompensable evaluation currently assigned. The Board finds that the information elicited during the April 2017 VA Skin examination is insufficient for making a determination on the Veteran’s increased rating claim.
The deciding factor: The April 2017 VA Skin examination did not provide specific percentages of total body area and total exposed body area affected by lichen planus, nor did it clarify whether the Veteran's treatment with topical corticosteroids constituted systemic therapy.
- Claimed conditions
- nummular eczema, lichen planus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20027626
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 20027626.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted with an effective date of September 14, 2010, based on his service-connected skin disorder and major depressive disorder preventing him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment.
- Dismissed
The Board denied the veteran's appeal for timely filing of an appeal request, dismissing the attempted appeal.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claims for an earlier effective date and a higher initial rating for bipolar disorder, as well as the claim for a higher rating for lichen planus, due to the fact that these issues were not properly before the Board.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a compensable initial disability rating for hypertension and remanded the service connection claim for lichen planus.
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