Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and pseudofolliculitis barbae have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a current disability of pseudofolliculitis barbae, which developed during service.

The Veteran's dermatitis was granted a rating of 60 percent effective July 19, 2011 and remains at that level. The TDIU claim is also granted.,The Veteran's ulcerative colitis has not been rated higher than the current 60 percent.

The Veteran's skin disability, nummular dermatitis, was not shown to be related to her service and the Board found no evidence of a nexus between her current condition and her military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for patellofemoral chondromalacia of the bilateral knee. The remaining issues on appeal (pseudofolliculitis barbae, ear condition, eye disorder, and migraines) are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain medical records and schedule the Veteran for VA examinations. The claims will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for porphyria cutanea tarda was not granted, as he has not been diagnosed with this condition.,For the entire appeal period, a 60 percent rating for tinea pedis and lichen planus, to include oral lichen planus, is warranted due to near-constant corticosteroid use.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated medical opinion regarding the Veteran's chloracne and its relationship to service, specifically addressing his statements about symptoms during and after service. The case will be reviewed based on all evidence.

The Veteran's neurodermatitis is rated at 10 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board finds no evidence of service connection for any respiratory disability, prostate disability, or cognitive disability. Service connection for PTSD and a shrapnel wound to the neck are granted. No special monthly compensation or TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, including basal cell carcinoma, actinic keratosis, and tinea versicolor of the face, due to herbicide exposure during his Vietnam War service is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran was granted service connection for neurodermatitis of the right shoulder, which he claims is due to mosquito bites during service. The VA examiner found that this condition is related to his in-service exposure.,Service connection was denied for low back strain with mild degenerative disc disease as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's skin disorder of the legs is not related to service and was diagnosed years after separation. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the claim.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and skin disorder were not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and are not etiologically related to service. The Board finds that the evidence is against a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is found to be related to service-connected arthritis. The Board also finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, granting his TDIU claim.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU as of August 11, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities. The case is also remanded for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU prior to August 11, 2015 and issuance of a SOC regarding the issue of entitlement to a TTE based on a service-connected disability requiring a period of convalescence following February 2016 surgery.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for various conditions, including soft tissue sarcoma, gastric ulcers, memory loss, headaches, hearing loss, chloracne, hypertension, and bladder cancer. The appeal is considered 'denied' as no specific disposition was provided.

The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp is rated at 60 percent since February 1, 2008, due to more than 40 percent of the entire body or exposed areas affected with constant systemic therapy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and attempting to locate a specific VA form from 1992.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids, tinea pedis (athlete's foot), asthma, a disability manifested by chest pain, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and bilateral plantar fasciitis are dismissed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and clarifying medical opinions regarding his respiratory disorder and acne with scarring.

The Veteran's skin disability (pseudofolliculitis barbae) is rated as noncompensable, while his keloids disability is rated at 10 percent prior to October 23, 2008 and 20 percent thereafter.