The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of PFB, but found that no compensable disability rating was warranted prior to May 31, 2017. Effective May 31, 2017, a 10 percent disability rating was granted for painful scars due to PFB.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's predominant condition before May 31, 2017 was PFB, which did not result in any compensable disability ratings. Effective May 31, 2017, the Veteran developed chin scarring and painful scars related to his PFB, warranting a 10 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB), Chin scarring due to PFB, Painful scars due to PFB
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 22, 2021
- Citation
- 21031470
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 21031470.
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.
- Granted
Service connection for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) is granted. The appeal of a deferral of service connection for PFB is dismissed.
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