Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for chronic rhinitis, plantar fasciitis in the left foot, and plantar fasciitis in the right foot have been dismissed as he withdrew these claims during his hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriasis was denied as there is no current diagnosis of psoriasis in the record. The claims for increased ratings for varicose veins and status post septoplasty are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to assess the severity of his service-connected atopic dermatitis and hernia residuals. The issues of rating adjustment for atopic dermatitis and TDIU are also pending.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae prior to December 23, 2009 and from that date was denied. The effective date of the current 50% rating remains in dispute.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including new VA examinations to determine the nature and likely etiology of her back disorder, bilateral knee/leg disability, and foot disorders. The AOJ will then readjudicate the claim in light of all evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, finding no evidence of current disability and noting that the Veteran had not provided any relevant medical or lay evidence to support his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from before December 1999 and associating a February 2014 examination report with the claims file.

The Veteran's eczema does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating as it does not involve at least 5 to 20 percent of his entire body or exposed areas, nor has it required intermittent systemic therapy. The current skin symptoms cover less than 1% of his total body area and none of his exposed areas.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service, but his current skin disabilities are not presumed to be related to such exposure. The VA examiner found no evidence linking his current conditions to active service or to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected skin conditions have been rated at 10 percent since September 26, 2008. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7806 are not met during any portion of the period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board does not have further jurisdiction to consider these matters.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic dermatitis of the feet with onychomycosis has not resulted in any compensable rating due to stable symptoms and no current disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions on the relationship between his service-connected acne vulgaris and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including psychiatric disorders, GERD, cervical and lumbar spine conditions, sinusitis, eczema, erectile dysfunction, and hip disorder. The claims are being remanded for additional development of the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin condition of the feet, high blood pressure, and psychiatric disability (depression) are all related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae is rated at a noncompensable level, and the Board has determined that a compensable rating of 10% is warranted.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that any service-connected disability caused or contributed substantially or materially to the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he does not have current bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes. The claims for dermatitis and a scalp condition are remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for atopic dermatitis effective from March 8, 2013. The Veteran's keloid of the right breast was rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for chloracne was denied. The VA determined that the condition, which is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, does not meet or approximate criteria warranting a higher evaluation.