Citation Nr: 23016972
Decision Date: 03/19/23	Archive Date: 03/19/23

DOCKET NO. 18-15 451
DATE: March 19, 2023

ORDER

Service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is granted.

FINDING OF FACT

The evidence of record shows that the Veteran's PFB had onset in service and has continued since service.

CONCLUSION OF LAW

The criteria for entitlement to service connection for PFB have been met.  38 U.S.C. § 1110; 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.

REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION

The Veteran had active service in the Air Force from May 2000 to March 2005.

This case comes to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from an October 2014 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) which is the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Veteran testified before the undersigned via video conference in February 2023.  A transcript of the hearing is associated with the claims file.

Service Connection

Service connection may be granted for a disability resulting from disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service.  38 U.S.C. §§ 1110; 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(a). Service connection may also be granted for any disease diagnosed after discharge, when all evidence, including that pertinent to service, establishes that the disease was incurred in service.  38 C.F.R. § 3.303(d).

Direct service connection is established evidence of (1) a current disability; (2) in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury; and (3) a causal relationship between the present disability and the disease or injury incurred or aggravated during service.  38 C.F.R. § 3.304.  Shedden v. Principi, 381 F.3d 1163, 1167 (Fed. Cir. 2004).  

Entitlement to service connection for PFB is granted.

The Veteran asserts that his current PFB is related to his military service.  Specifically, he asserts that he initially noticed an outbreak of PFB during his basic training.  See February 2023 Hearing Transcript. 

The Veteran's VA treatment records dated July 2015 document a current diagnosis of PFB.  Accordingly, a current disability is established. 

With respect to an in-service injury or disease, the Board notes that the Veteran's service treatment records (STRs) reflect that he first reported difficulty with shaving in August 2004 and requested a shaving profile.  Accordingly, an in-service incurrence is established.   

Regarding the final element, nexus, the Veteran has competently and credibly testified as to having symptoms of irritable and painful shaving bumps on his neck ever since his active-duty service.  See February 2023 Hearing Transcript.   The Board finds no reason to call into question the Veteran's report of history and self-identification of current symptoms as he is competent to report the presence of shaving bumps on his neck and the Board finds him credible in this regard.    Therefore, all the elements for service connection are met. 

In light of the above, the Board concludes that the most probative evidence reflects that the Veteran initially experienced an outbreak of PFB during his active-duty service, and the disability has persisted since that time.  In such cases, the controlling laws provide that service connection is warranted.  38 C.F.R. § 3.303(d).

 

 

Jenna Brant

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	Miller, D M., Associate Counsel 

The Board's decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.