The Veteran's atopic dermatitis is now rated at 30 percent, effective November 22, 2016. The Board found that the use of oral prednisone for less than six weeks during any twelve-month period did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the old version of Diagnostic Code 7806. However, considering VA treatment records and lay testimony, the Board determined that the Veteran used prednisone for at least six weeks in some twelve-month periods, which could be considered systemic therapy and warranted a 30 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The use of oral prednisone was found to constitute systemic therapy under both the old and new versions of Diagnostic Code 7806, leading to an increased rating of 30 percent for atopic dermatitis.
- Claimed conditions
- Atopic Dermatitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- October 19, 2023
- Citation
- 23057051
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 23057051.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted effective dates of April 29, 2022, for the grant of a 70 percent rating for PTSD and a 30 percent rating for cervical spine disability but denied initial compensable ratings for various scars and other conditions.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent for GERD and service connection for atopic dermatitis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms met the criteria for these benefits.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension and remanded claims for service connection for atopic dermatitis, breast cancer, and depression as secondary to breast cancer.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for service-connected atopic dermatitis has been granted, with an effective date of December 2022. A separate grant of TDIU based on PTSD alone is also in effect since November 26, 2014. Special monthly compensation at the housebound rate due to additional disabilities rated at 80 percent disabling from April 30, 2018 has been granted.
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