Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding his seborrheic dermatitis and hypertension.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, skin cancer, a compensable disability rating for dermatitis of the bilateral feet prior to November 14, 2014, and a TDIU prior to April 16, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's groin skin disability, specifically tinea cruris. The Veteran is requested to provide any additional records and authorized for release by VA.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding issues related to PTSD and nervous condition, as well as scheduling another Board videoconference hearing.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a left shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, neck disorder, low back disorder, bilateral foot disorder (other than the fractured third metatarsal), bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and headache disorder. The rating assigned remains at noncompensable throughout the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for acne vulgaris is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and medical opinion regarding the severity of his condition, as well as whether he has required constant or near-constant systemic therapy.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain clarification on whether the Veteran's liver failure and hepatitis were caused by his service-connected acne vulgaris, including any potential secondary effects of the prescribed medication Accutane.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin disability claimed as left toe fungus, to include tinea pedis, is denied because there is no competent evidence linking the current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and the obtaining of outstanding medical records.

The Board has determined that further action is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining additional medical opinions and evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for eczema/herpetic lesions is granted. Service connection for a gastrointestinal condition, including GERD, is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the claimed condition during the appeal period and it is not related to service. The Veteran's claim for PTSD is denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence that an in-service stressor occurred.

The Veteran's service-connected skin disability does not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened several service connection claims and granted them, with some issues receiving staged ratings. The effective date for the award of PTSD is set at April 9, 2007.

The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis and acne keloidalis have been rated as 30 percent disabling since June 2009. The Board has determined that the symptoms more closely approximate the criteria for a 60 percent rating under DC 7806 during the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the issuance of a Statement of the Case on all issues related to his claims, including an increased rating for athlete's foot and reopening previously denied claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Buffalo, VAMC for further clarification regarding his claim of entitlement to a clothing allowance. The issue will be reconsidered in light of new medical evidence and specific identification of outer garments damaged by prescribed medications.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for acne vulgaris was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition warranted a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic organic heart disease was reopened, but his request for increased ratings for PFB with scarring and prostatitis were denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches and residuals of cystic acne vulgaris has been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of headaches, which is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, partial left median neuropathy, and skin disorders, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.