The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected lichen simplex chronicus with scarring, finding that his condition did not meet criteria for higher ratings based on exposure or other factors. The current rating is appropriate given the Veteran's symptoms and treatment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s skin disability does not cover more than 20 to 40 percent of the entire body or exposed areas affected, nor does it require systemic therapy such as corticosteroids for a total duration of six weeks or more during the past 12-month period.
- Claimed conditions
- lichen simplex chronicus, scarring
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 12, 2020
- Citation
- 20072812
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,217 · Granted: 46% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20072812.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial ratings for kidney cancer and scarring from treatment have been denied as there is no evidence of compensable residual conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), including scarring, is remanded due to incomplete examination reports.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinion and failure to consider the Veteran's in-service chemical exposure. The Veteran's skin conditions are related to service, but a TERA opinion is needed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 0 percent for pseudofolliculitis is remanded due to inadequate examination and failure to consider new evidence.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.