The Board granted service connection for epidermal cysts and related scars on the back, face, and arms based on evidence of in-service toxic exposures.
The deciding factor: The evidence was at least as likely as not that the Veteran's epidermal cyst disability and associated scars were caused by toxic exposures during his active service.
- Claimed conditions
- back scars secondary to epidermal cysts, epidermal cysts, face and arm scars secondary to epidermal cysts
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 7, 2025
- Citation
- 25008836
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,863 · Granted: 26% (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 25008836.
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 Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and epidermal cysts on the basis of presumptive exposure to herbicide agents during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his skin conditions and an earlier effective date for TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and initial compensable rating for epidermal cysts has been denied. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met, as the Veteran's condition did not meet the requirements of Diagnostic Code 7815.
- Dismissed
Your claim for service connection for benign growths of the skin and epidermal cysts, claimed as shaving profile and pseudofolliculitis barbae, has been dismissed because your previous claim was granted in full.
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