BVA decisions by condition
Dermatitis or eczema: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2018 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a dermatitis or eczema issue in 11,612 decisions. It granted the dermatitis or eczema issue in 17.5% of them, below the 19.9% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 34.9%, and remanded it in 47.4%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 33.4% were granted.
Decisions
11,612
2018–2026
Granted
17.5%
All conditions: 19.9%
Granted on the merits
33.4%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
47.4%
Denied: 34.9%
Dermatitis or eczema outcomes by year
| Year | Decisions | Granted | Denied | Remanded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1,449 | 14.1% | 39.1% | 44.2% |
| 2019 | 1,470 | 13.1% | 35.4% | 51.0% |
| 2020 | 1,533 | 13.8% | 37.6% | 49.3% |
| 2021 | 1,456 | 15.5% | 35.7% | 49.3% |
| 2022 | 1,317 | 18.4% | 28.5% | 53.8% |
| 2023 | 1,398 | 18.8% | 27.3% | 53.2% |
| 2024 | 1,249 | 21.1% | 32.7% | 46.3% |
| 2025 | 1,278 | 24.2% | 40.1% | 36.1% |
| 2026 | 462 | 26.6% | 40.9% | 32.5% |
Evidence in granted and denied dermatitis or eczema decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the dermatitis or eczema issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive nexus opinion | 1,370 | 63.3% | 28.0% | +35.3 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 1,409 | 57.3% | 28.5% | +28.9 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 523 | 55.1% | 32.2% | +23.0 pts |
| Buddy statement | 307 | 48.5% | 33.0% | +15.4 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 2,927 | 43.0% | 29.7% | +13.4 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 1,175 | 37.9% | 33.2% | +4.8 pts |
| Combat service | 821 | 37.9% | 33.1% | +4.7 pts |
| Lay statement | 9,691 | 33.2% | 34.9% | −1.6 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 71.6% of the decisions that granted dermatitis or eczema.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 44.0% of grants and 14.7% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often dermatitis or eczema was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative nexus opinion | 5,456 | 31.9% | 35.0% | −3.1 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 8,833 | 31.5% | 44.4% | −12.9 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied dermatitis or eczema
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established249
- Criteria for service connection met26
- Already at the maximum schedular rating22
- Service connection established22
- Caused by the service-connected disability16
- Continuity of symptomatology since service14
- Evidence evenly balanced12
- Met criteria for 60% rating under DC 78068
Most common reasons in denials
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim432
- No current diagnosis328
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service286
- Service records negative or silent248
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis208
- Current diagnosis established128
- No systemic therapy required80
- Already at the maximum schedular rating56
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent dermatitis or eczema decisions
Granted
Improper CUE finding for reduction; Ambiguity in DC 7806 regulation; Examiner's opinion on systemic therapy
Reduction from 30% to 0% found improper; Lay evidence and private DBQ indicated continued symptoms and worsening; Contradicted VA examiner's finding of quiescent disease
Veteran's STRs silent for skin condition, but telegram mentioned leg wound.; Post-service records show intermittent rash complaints with various diagnoses (eczema, dermatitis, tinea).; Multiple VA opinions found inadequate for failing to address in-service symptoms or all diagnosed conditions.; Veteran provided credible lay testimony of rash starting during service.; Evidence found in approximate balance, resolving doubt in Veteran's favor.
Denied
No evidence of in-service manifestation or result; No manifestation within one year of separation
October 2024 VA examination noted lesions involving less than 5% of body and 0% of exposed areas.; Treatment was exclusively topical, without systemic therapy.; Examiner's opinion is competent and credible, with no contrary evidence.
PFB did not manifest with scarring or disfigurement.; PFB did not cover at least 5% of exposed areas.; PFB did not require treatment within the past 12 months.
Rules that apply to dermatitis or eczema claims
- 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your dermatitis or eczema case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a dermatitis or eczema issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2018–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.