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

The Board has received a statement from the Veteran requesting to withdraw his appeal, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's eczema with rosacea is currently rated at 60 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic code. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae was granted a non-compensable initial rating in August 2009, which was increased to 10 percent effective June 12, 2014. The Veteran's hypertension claim remains pending.

The Veteran's skin disorder was rated at 10 percent prior to September 21, 2012 and increased to 30 percent beginning September 21, 2012.

The Veteran's liver disability is denied, but he has a respiratory disability and skin disability that are found to be related to his active duty service. The Board gives the Veteran the benefit of the doubt in these cases.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chloracne of the arms, hypertension, a dry and scaly condition involving the feet, swelling in the legs, swollen hands, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen a claim for basal cell carcinoma (skin cancer) of the right eyelid.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA skin examination and additional development of his claims file. The issue of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for eczema, onychomycosis, and tinea pedis are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran withdrew from appeal the issues of service connection for tuberculosis and claims for higher ratings for left ankle and left eye disorders and for acne. The case is dismissed as to these matters.

The Veteran's acne conglobata has been rated as 10 percent disabling since September 11, 2007. The Board found that the condition warrants this rating throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae is rated at 30 percent since December 2, 2010. The condition covers less than 40% of the entire body and exposed areas, with intermittent topical therapy required during the past year.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae was previously denied in August 2006. New evidence received since that decision does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to a low back disability is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of the record, including obtaining a medical opinion on secondary service connection and addressing pre-existing pes planus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic fatigue and bilateral hearing loss. The decision found no current disability related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for postoperative degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, postoperative residuals of a right knee injury, and eczema have been denied. The VA has not found sufficient evidence to grant any of these claims.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for PFB was denied, and his claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disorder and reopening of the back condition claim were also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current acne is related to his service or pre-existed service and was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for dermatitis is granted as it began during a period of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and thus meets the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's skin disorder and prostate disability are presumed to be due to his service in Vietnam, where he was exposed to Agent Orange. The Board is remanding the case for further development.,Service connection has been denied for hypertension as there is no evidence of its onset during service or within a year postservice.