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

The Veteran's skin condition, pseudofolliculitis barbae, is being remanded for additional development as the current VA examination may not have fully addressed his claim and there are recent treatment records that need to be reviewed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea versicolor was reopened, and he is now receiving a compensable rating for chest scars. However, his claims for increased laryngitis with hoarseness, TMJ dysfunction, and aid and attendance were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private and VA treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his eczematous dermatitis, and scheduling another VA examination to determine the effect of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, as the evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD and links it to in-service combat stressors.,Service connection for lymphedema of the lower extremities is denied. The current condition is not related to service or secondary to the service-connected residual right thigh scar from shrapnel fragment wounds.,The Veteran's claim for boils is denied. There is no currently diagnosed boil disability.,Service connection for dermatitis and bilateral foot tinea pedis is denied. The current conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including an examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected PFB and whether any manifestations are part and parcel of the condition.

The Board denied service connection for psoriasis and bilateral hand disability (psoriatic arthritis) as the evidence did not show a nexus to service.

The Veteran's recurrent skin rash was not found to be related to his service, including exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. Service connection for the condition is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle disability, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder. However, it did not reach a decision on whether these claims are well-grounded or meritorious.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected scalp folliculitis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not show that his condition warrants a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's dry skin disability is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination of the Veteran's feet. The Veteran is also asked to submit lay statements from himself and others who have first-hand knowledge of his foot symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss disability, residuals of right lower leg surgery, laceration of the left hand, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or persistent symptoms of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been granted. Service connection has been established for diabetic retinopathy, and the Veteran is now rated at 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with complications including nephropathy (microalbuminuria), left foot neuropathy, right foot neuropathy, left hand neuropathy, right hand neuropathy, and tinea rash.

The Veteran's sleep disorder is considered a symptom of his service-connected PTSD and not a separate disability. The Board has denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the appellant's skin conditions, specifically tinea pedis and tinea versicolor, did not have their onset during service and are therefore not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for onychomycosis and tinea cruris has been withdrawn by the appellant's representative.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the current severity of his skin disorder and whether he has a respiratory disorder due to asbestos exposure in service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been granted with compensable ratings, except for the hypertrophic gastritis which has a rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims from appellate review.