The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for skin disorder, including epidermal inclusion cysts. The decision is based on inadequate VA examinations and a duty to assist error before the May 2025 rating decision.
The deciding factor: The March 2025 and May 2025 VA examinations were found to be inadequate as they did not consider all of the Veteran's skin conditions, including those documented in his VA treatment records. The Board also noted that there was no objective evidence related to diagnosis of epidermal inclusion cysts or other related skin condition during active duty.
- Claimed conditions
- epidermal inclusion cysts, cystic acne, folliculitis, perifollicular erythematous papules, hyperpigmented macules
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 2, 2026
- Citation
- A26018376
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 A26018376.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae and hypertrophic scarring as secondary to now service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae are granted. The remaining claims of entitlement to service connection for a skin condition other than pseudofolliculitis barbae, bilateral toenail fungus, and genital warts or syphilis are remanded due to the need for additional development.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's skin disability (atopic dermatitis, folliculitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and seborrheic keratosis) on a direct basis. The decision finds that there is at least an equipoise of evidence to support the claim, thus resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection of multiple conditions, including PTSD with sleep disturbance and several physical injuries, was dismissed because the issues were already on appeal to the Board.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for vaginal conditions, gastric bypass with residual hernias, bilateral knee conditions, bilateral shin splints, and bilateral foot conditions as they were not found to be related to the Veteran's service or service-connected disabilities.
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