{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/pseudofolliculitis-barbae","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:01.004Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"condition":"Pseudofolliculitis barbae","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":548,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":8.8,"denied_pct":35.6,"remanded_pct":51.8,"granted_on_merits_pct":19.8,"by_year":[{"year":2018,"issues":44,"granted_pct":2.3,"denied_pct":22.7,"remanded_pct":65.9},{"year":2019,"issues":71,"granted_pct":5.6,"denied_pct":25.4,"remanded_pct":64.8},{"year":2020,"issues":80,"granted_pct":5,"denied_pct":32.5,"remanded_pct":60},{"year":2021,"issues":45,"granted_pct":2.2,"denied_pct":37.8,"remanded_pct":57.8},{"year":2022,"issues":51,"granted_pct":19.6,"denied_pct":25.5,"remanded_pct":51},{"year":2023,"issues":52,"granted_pct":9.6,"denied_pct":36.5,"remanded_pct":51.9},{"year":2024,"issues":81,"granted_pct":11.1,"denied_pct":35.8,"remanded_pct":49.4},{"year":2025,"issues":92,"granted_pct":13,"denied_pct":58.7,"remanded_pct":25},{"year":2026,"issues":23,"granted_pct":8.7,"denied_pct":52.2,"remanded_pct":34.8}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":62.5,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":73,"granted_pct_with":34.3,"granted_pct_without":17.3},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":436,"granted_pct_with":20,"granted_pct_without":17.9},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":89,"granted_pct_with":44.4,"granted_pct_without":16.7},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":240,"granted_pct_with":22,"granted_pct_without":17.9},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":155,"granted_pct_with":25.8,"granted_pct_without":17.5},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":455,"granted_pct_with":20.2,"granted_pct_without":17.1}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":5}],"denied":[{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":12},{"reason":"no systemic therapy required","decisions":9},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":7},{"reason":"did not meet criteria for compensable rating","decisions":6},{"reason":"condition affects less than 5% of body/exposed areas","decisions":5},{"reason":"benefit of the doubt / evidence in equipoise","decisions":5}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"26004809","year":2026,"judge":"THOMAS L. ENGLISH","rationale":"Board found Doxycycline to be systemic and analogous to corticosteroids/immunosuppressive drugs.; Treatment with Doxycycline exceeded six weeks but was not constant.; No scarring or disfigurement noted."},{"case_id":"A26022717","year":2026,"judge":"TIMOTHY COTHREL","rationale":"Met criteria for 10% rating under General Rating Formula for Skin; Lesions affected less than 5% of body; Required oral and topical therapy for less than 6 weeks"},{"case_id":"A25106515","year":2025,"judge":"C. CRAWFORD","rationale":"PFB symptoms approximated criteria for 10% rating under DC 7804; Resolving doubt in veteran's favor; Higher rating not warranted due to limited number of scars/area affected"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"26004843","year":2026,"judge":"DANETTE MINCEY","rationale":"VA examination confirmed diagnosis but found minimal skin involvement.; No systemic therapy used in the past 12 months.; Symptoms did not meet criteria for higher rating or disfigurement."},{"case_id":"26004585","year":2026,"judge":"NATHANIEL DOAN","rationale":"Evidence did not meet criteria for increased rating; No characteristic lesions involving 20-40% of body or exposed areas; No systemic therapy required for 6+ weeks"},{"case_id":"A26031779","year":2026,"judge":"MICHAEL MARTIN","rationale":"Condition affects less than 5% of body/exposed areas; Did not require systemic therapy; Does not meet criteria for compensable rating"}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}