The Veteran's skin rash and low back disorder claims have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.,Service connection for a qualifying chronic disability manifested by unexplained rash and other dermatological signs and symptoms, including erythematous papules located on the lower abdomen and lower back with dry and scaly skin, due to undiagnosed illness is granted.
The deciding factor: The new evidence includes testimony from the Veteran regarding his ongoing issues with a skin rash and low back disorder since service. The September 2017 VA examination confirmed these symptoms as an 'undiagnosed illness.',Service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and chronic low back pain is granted based on continuous symptomatology since separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- Skin Rash, Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbosacral Spine and Chronic Low Back Pain
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 3, 2023
- Citation
- 23042802
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 23042802.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's skin rash condition, which was previously rated as noncompensable (0 percent), is now rated at 30 percent effective January 18, 2018. The rating decision also grants an earlier effective date of December 2, 2009.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding her claims of service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, numbness in extremities, and a skin rash. The appeals are not related to service connection.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected chronic idiopathic anhidrosis (CIA) is currently rated at 20 percent, and his headaches associated with CIA are rated at 10 percent. The Board denied a higher rating for CIA and granted a separate evaluation of 10 percent for the headaches.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for HTN and skin rash, as well as service connection for a left big toe condition have been reopened. The Board has granted an increased rating of 10 percent for HTN from June 27, 2013, and has also granted service connection for the left big toe condition.
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