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

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his authorized representative before a decision was made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin rash and cardiac disorder are not related to his service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The evidence does not support a finding of direct or secondary service connection.

The Veteran withdrew all appeals regarding her disability claims prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has granted service connection for certain conditions, including acid reflux, erectile dysfunction, gastrointestinal disorder, hiatal hernia, and kidney stones. The Veteran's claims are based on undiagnosed illnesses related to his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Gulf War.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of her service-connected right elbow and knee disabilities, finding that the July 2015 VA examination was inadequate due to its failure to specify additional limitation of motion due to flare-ups. The appeal is therefore remanded for a new examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease warrants an initial 20 percent rating, but no higher, throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's eczema has been granted a higher initial rating of 10 percent, effective through April 3, 2013. The Board found that the condition affected less than five percent of his entire body and exposed areas during this period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to schedule a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of psoriasis as there was no regulatory provision that allowed the grant of service connection prior to his February 7, 2003, claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's skin disorders, other than tinea cruris (which he is already service-connected for), to include seborrheic dermatitis, were not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that an additional VA examination is needed to clarify whether the Veteran's pre-existing acne condition was aggravated during service and if so, whether this aggravation led to permanent scarring. The case will be returned to the RO for readjudication after considering all new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disability (acne disorder) and a sleep disability, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service. The claim for glaucoma was also granted.,Service connection is established for an acne disorder due to exposure in Iraq and Kuwait during active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected psoriatic arthritis has been granted, with the exception of hearing loss. The RO assigned initial noncompensable ratings for various manifestations of psoriatic arthritis and a 10 percent rating for psoriatic arthritis of the lumbar spine effective May 9, 2013.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for eczema due to new and material evidence. The claim is granted, but the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating for his service-connected hemorrhoids.

The Board found that lichen planus had its onset during service and granted service connection for it. However, the Board determined that there was no evidence to support a finding of service connection for any other skin disability.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor has been rated at 10 percent since the initial grant of service connection in 1990, and this decision affirms that rating.

The Board has dismissed the issues regarding loss of toenail and fingernail, as well as the issue to reopen service connection for stress fractures. The remaining claims have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including addendum opinions regarding his service connection claim and TDIU claim.

The Veteran's dermatitis with pruritus is rated at a maximum of 60 percent under Diagnostic Code 7806, as he uses topical corticosteroids on a constant or near-constant basis.