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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but found that the Veteran's hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations. The other claims were also addressed and denied.

The Veteran's dermatophytosis of the feet has required near-constant systemic therapy with topical corticosteroids, warranting a 60 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing appropriate examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinea pedis, bilateral, warrants a 10 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7804. The condition is manifested by migratory painful rashes covering less than 5% of the entire body or exposed areas and treated with non-corticosteroid topical treatment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residual scarring from acne is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a history of acne during her military service, which resulted in scarring on her face.

The Veteran's skin disorder, specifically tinea versicolor, is being remanded for additional development due to the need for a new VA examination during a period of flare-up. The current rating remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis of the face and head is found to have started in service, granting service connection. The cervical spine disorder and ischemic heart disease are not connected to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a new VA examination to assess his service-connected low back and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral toe disability, and cellulitis.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal of all issues in this case, stating that the Veteran was satisfied with his 100 percent rating for hypertension and did not wish to proceed further.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for eczema has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of this condition. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed skin disability other than dermatophytosis, which is already in service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection is denied for all issues on appeal.

The Board finds that the Veteran's skin disorder of folliculitis is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected dysthymic disorder, and thus service connection for this condition is granted. The stomach disability of diastasis rectus is not shown to be related to active service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's chloracne, including cysts behind the right and left ears, has been rated at a 30 percent disability level due to requiring systemic therapy such as Lamisil for six weeks or more during the past year.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an evaluation of 10 percent or higher for his hypertension. For the other claims, the evidence does not support a finding that any of the claimed conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chloracne is granted, as it is presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure. The right wrist arthritis claim remains pending.

The Veteran's claims were granted, with increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities. The initial ratings assigned are within the range of disability severity as determined by VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of his claimed bilateral hearing loss and skin condition. The issues on appeal are related to service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for residuals, bilateral pes planus. Service connection was also denied for hypertension, right arm condition, conjunctivitis left eye, and rash of right upper thigh and leg.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right lobe bronchiectasis with COPD and service connection for emphysema were denied. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation prior to January 14, 2005, or from November 20, 2007 through February 19, 2015, but his right lobe bronchiectasis with COPD was rated at 60 percent effective February 20, 2015. The Veteran's claim for service connection for emphysema secondary to the service-connected right lobe bronchiectasis with COPD was also denied.