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

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations and a need to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for squamous cell carcinoma and dermatitis, including as related to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a lumbar spine disorder and other service connection issues due to procedural errors, including failing to schedule a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's grade 1 anterolisthesis of L5 on S1 lumbar is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, effective February 6, 2014. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for any portion of the period on appeal.,For his bilateral tinea pedis, the Veteran's disability has been rated as noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 7806. The evidence does not show that the condition covers at least five percent of the entire body or exposed areas affected, and no intermittent systemic therapy is required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including intermetacarpal disability of the right hand, chronic pain of the right hand, a left ring finger disability, chest pain, and compensation purposes for a dental condition identified as all teeth pulled, are denied. The Board finds no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's skin disability affecting his bilateral feet, including keratoderma, tinea pedis, tinea unguium, and erythrasma, warrants a 10 percent rating as it affects less than 5% of his total body area and has required intermittent systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs for less than six weeks during the past 12-month period.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of private treatment and a VA examination to determine if any current skin disability is related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the low back and an initial compensable disability evaluation for eczema. The evidence does not show a current diagnosis of arthritis in the low back.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a skin condition, including as secondary to Agent Orange exposure. The case is remanded due to the need for an examination to determine if he has chloracne or any other skin disorder related to service.

The Veteran's dermatitis and urticaria are found to have been incurred during military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right foot scars, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and folliculitis and seborrheic dermatitis. The appeals were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish a link between his conditions and active duty. The reopening of claims was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent due to painful, limited motion.,The Veteran's fungal infection affecting his groin and axillae (armpits) is rated at 10 percent prior to June 9, 2009. Since then, the rating has been increased to 10 percent for areas affected by the fungus.,The Veteran does not meet criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating for his fungal infection since June 9, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral tinea pedis with calluses is not productive of symptomatology consistent with at least a 5 percent rating, and therefore, the claim for an initial compensable rating has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus is found to be the cause of his obstructive sleep apnea, and therefore he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 60 percent rating for eczematous dermatitis, finding that the reduction from 60 to 0 percent was not proper due to insufficient evidence of improvement in his condition.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as her shin splints and acne were not found to warrant higher disability ratings. The Board also noted that the Veteran did not have service connection for hip disabilities or migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting information regarding the Veteran's hearing request. The Veteran is entitled to a videoconference hearing at the earliest opportunity.

The Board found that the April 2010 rating decision assigning a 60 percent evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae contained clear and unmistakable error (CUE), and thus reduced the rating to 0 percent effective January 30, 2015.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal in September 2013.