The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, claimed as seborrheic dermatitis, has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depressive disorder, and GAD) and a lumbar spine disability.
The deciding factor: New evidence was submitted showing that the Veteran's preexisting skin condition may have been aggravated by service, leading to its current state. The Board found credible Dr. Yocom's opinion linking the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD, depressive disorder, and GAD) to his military service. For the lumbar spine disability, the Board found the evidence in equipoise as to whether it was caused by service.
- Claimed conditions
- skin disability (claimed as seborrheic dermatitis), acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 5, 2023
- Citation
- 23026440
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 23026440.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits are being remanded due to new evidence and development needs. The maximum disability rating for tinnitus has already been assigned.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for miscarriage, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right elbow disability due to insufficient examination opinions and incomplete service history verification.
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