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

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinea versicolor has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and denied the remaining issues of service connection. The Veteran is now service connected for a mood disorder, but not for chloracne, psoriasis, IBS, hearing loss, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, or residuals of frostbite.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request. Service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board finds that the Veteran's skin condition, hypertension, and diverticulitis are not related to his periods of active duty or National Guard service. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in service.

The Veteran's skin disorder, including lichen planus and associated scars, is related to his military service. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's skin disorder was incurred in or caused by service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for seborrheic dermatitis and sinusitis were denied. The skin condition was rated as 10 percent, 30 percent, and 60 percent from different periods of time, but the highest rating (60 percent) is not granted due to lack of evidence showing more than 40% body or exposed areas affected. For sinusitis, no incapacitating episodes were found warranting a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected fungal dermatitis has affected less than 40 percent of his entire body and exposed areas, and did not require constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the assignment of a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected fungal dermatitis from January 25, 2011.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant, and as such, these claims are granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The skin disability, bilateral pes planus, left knee instability, left knee tendonitis, and right knee tendonitis are all rated under the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a skin examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition is pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as Level III, resulting in a noncompensable rating.,His pseudofolliculitis barbae has not been shown to meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis has been rated at 10 percent since October 6, 2011. The condition covers less than 20% of her exposed areas and does not require systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs.

The Veteran's tinea pedis was found to have its onset in service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition. The issue of an increased rating for trapezius myitis is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed skin disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the case is being remanded for further action, including obtaining VA treatment records from New York and West Palm Beach, conducting new examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's tinea pedis and pseudo folliculitis barbae, and re-adjudicating the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PFB, hypertension, right knee disorder, and low back disorder. The evidence did not support a compensable evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae and additional medical evidence translation.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for facial acne prior to April 21, 2014 and her request for an increased rating from that date have both been denied.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to a scheduling issue for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for low back strain, right knee disability, and eczema remain in controversy.