The claims for acne and pseudofolliculitis barbae are remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The right ankle, left ankle, right knee, and right hip disabilities are also remanded due to a need for an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The claims must be remanded because they involve service connection on a secondary basis, which requires evidence showing that the current disability was either caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability. The AOJ needs to provide an adequate explanation for separating the Veteran's acne and pseudofolliculitis barbae disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Acne, Pseudofolliculitis Barbae, Right Ankle Disability, Left Ankle Disability, Right Knee Disability, Right Hip Disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 5, 2024
- Citation
- A24080953
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 A24080953.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The claims for urinary frequency disability and residuals of a cholecystectomy were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and denied higher ratings for several service-connected conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, including separate ratings for instability and meniscal conditions, but denied higher ratings for flexion limitations in both knees. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to December 1, 2021.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD and remanded the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for a right knee disability.
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