Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of a current disability or a relationship between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic skin disabilities, diagnosed as hand eczema, actinic keratosis and seborrheic keratosis, had onset in active service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, diagnosed as eczema, was denied because the evidence did not support a finding that her current condition is related to active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for joint pain in the shoulders, knees, and ankles as due to an undiagnosed illness. The Veteran's right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome is rated at 10 percent, effective September 21, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lipomas on the chest and neck, dermatitis and hypopigmented eczema, and entitlement to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to active service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae has been rated at 30 percent since December 1998. Since February 15, 2011, the Board has granted a 60 percent rating based on constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs required during a 12-month period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's tinea pedis was diagnosed but did not cover at least five percent of the exposed body or five percent of the entire body, thus failing to meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension and pseudofolliculitis barbae disabilities have been granted increased ratings, with the hypertension receiving a 10 percent rating effective December 15, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to obtain and secure substantial gainful employment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, residuals of a right eye injury, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The lumbar spine disorder claim is reopened but denied as there is no medical evidence showing it is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance was denied because the medications used to treat his service-connected ichthyosis vulgaris with superimposed eczema cause irreparable damage to his outer garments. The Board has decided that this decision should be remanded so that a clinical evaluation can determine if the prescribed skin medication causes irreparable damage.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, and a 10 percent rating was assigned. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings and earlier effective dates are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on his keloids and scar from the removal of cysts has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding sleep apnea.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability, bilateral hips disability, and skin disease due to lack of evidence showing an in-service onset or incurrence.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), eczema, and onychomycosis are all found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, gastrointestinal disease, skin disorder, heart condition secondary to PTSD, peripheral vestibular disorder, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus. The Veteran's left ear frostbite is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a VA clothing allowance was denied as there is no evidence that his prescribed creams and ointments cause irreparable damage to his outergarments or that his CPAP machine tends to wear or tear his clothing.

The Veteran's lichen simplex chronicus and seborrheic dermatitis have been rated as 30 percent for the period from April 24, 1997 through August 29, 2002. Effective August 30, 2002, a rating of 30 percent has been assigned.