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

The Veteran's service-connected right elbow ulna spurring, right hand middle trigger finger, and left hand middle trigger finger disabilities have been granted with a 10% rating each. The Veteran does not have any other service-connected conditions addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their passing away during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's acne with scars has not been shown to meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, including determining whether his current conditions are related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin conditions, including psoriasis, actinic keratosis, and herpes zoster, are not related to his active service, including herbicide exposure. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current folliculitis is incurred during active service and granted service connection for this condition. The other issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection and increased evaluation, as well as his entitlement to specially adapted housing and/or special home adaptations.

The Veteran's PFB was rated at 30 percent prior to September 13, 2012 and higher than 10 percent since then.

The Board denied service connection for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, finding that the conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic headaches do not warrant a rating greater than 50 percent, and his pseudofolliculitis barbae does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing VA medical center records from Little Rock.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for tinea manus and pedis, as well as the evaluation in excess of 10 percent for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's skin condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to April 26, 2012. From that date, his condition covered less than 40 percent of his total body area and did not require constant or near constant systemic therapy.

The Veteran's request for an extension of the delimiting date beyond June 22, 2009 for Chapter 30 educational benefits was denied as there is no medical evidence to establish that pursuing a program of education due to physical or mental disabilities was medically infeasible.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of current tinea pedis, and the preexisting bilateral pes planus and left ankle conditions did not meet the criteria for higher initial ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for chloracne and seborrheic dermatitis, both considered to be related to herbicide exposure during service. The claim for a respiratory disorder is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen previously denied claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn. The Board does not have jurisdiction to consider the increased rating claim for hypertension with headaches as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in November 2015.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury (TBI), eczema/xerosis (claimed as skin rash), numbness of the fingers, and erectile dysfunction.