The Veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae (PB) was not shown to meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating, as it did not affect at least 5% of his entire body or exposed areas and no intermittent systemic therapy was required.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran's PB condition was asymptomatic and covered less than 5% of his total body area and less than 5% of exposed areas, thus meeting the criteria for a noncompensable rating.
- Claimed conditions
- pseudofolliculitis barbae (PB)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 25, 2024
- Citation
- A24068927
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,329 · Granted: 31% (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 A24068927.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back pain, initial compensable disability rating for PB, and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and migraines. The case is remanded to obtain addendum VA opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.,For his service-connected disabilities, the Veteran seeks a higher initial rating for PB. However, the Board finds that the evidence does not support a compensable rating.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee and ankle conditions, low back pain, sciatic radicular pain, TBI, headaches, and PB, are granted. The Veteran is currently rated at 70% for PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PB) is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § § 1151 for Staph due to VA treatment is denied.,Service connection for a bilateral hip disability, left ankle disability, right eye cataracts, and OSA are all denied.,A rating higher than 10 percent for PB is denied, as the Veteran's condition does not meet the criteria for such a rating under the current regulations.
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