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

The Veteran's service connection claim for eczema and chronic kidney disease was granted. The Veteran's DDD of the thoracolumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran's claim for higher levels of SMC based on service-connected disabilities was denied as his conditions do not meet the legal criteria for such benefits.

The Veteran's right ankle, left ankle, and bilateral hearing loss conditions are all found to be related to his service.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's tinea pedis (infections of unknown origins) as it was present during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for an updated examination of his pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) condition, as he states that it has worsened. The case will be returned to the AOJ after the examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Travel Board hearing. The initial compensable rating and the subsequent increased rating claims are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinea cruris and low back disorder are not related to his service, including an in-service explosion. The conditions did not manifest during or within one year after service, nor is there a continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and he has met the schedular criteria for a TDIU as of August 1, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to March 19, 2003, and a higher initial disability rating for his service-connected chloracne. The Veteran is now seeking a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for dermatitis, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability present during or within one year after service and concluding that his condition is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is mixed, with some issues granted and others not. The initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae was denied, but the claims for service connection for spina bifida occulta with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and hypertension were partially reopened.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disability but denied all other issues. The Veteran's current low back condition is not related to his military service, and he does not have PFB or active left biceps femoris tendonitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher initial rating for his skin conditions, as well as his claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus. The decision also addressed his increased rating for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin condition, claimed as acne, is service-connected due to evidence at least in equipoise regarding a causal relationship between his active duty service and his current condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psoriasis and cysts had their onset during service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's prostate cancer reduction from 100% to 20% was proper due to remission of the disease. The issue of increased rating and service connection for folliculitis with underlying asteatotic dermatitis are not addressed as they relate to the reduction decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin condition, including eczema and dermatitis, is not related to his active military service. The evidence does not show a current diagnosis or treatment for these conditions during service, and there is no medical opinion linking them to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for his refractive error, blepharitis, bilateral cataracts, tinea, and chronic lumbosacral strain. The Board finds that further development is necessary before a decision can be made on these claims.,Service connection for mild venous valvular insufficiency is also at issue. The Veteran seeks service connection based on his diabetes mellitus, type II.,The Veteran's claim for tinea is related to his military service and the Board finds that further examination is necessary to determine if it was aggravated by his diabetes mellitus, type II.,Service connection for chronic lumbosacral strain with herniated nucleus pulposus is also at issue. The Veteran seeks service connection based on his military service.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor affects more than 40 percent of his entire body, and the Board has granted an initial 60 percent rating for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, lumbosacral strain, and gum disease have not been established. The claim for a compensable disability rating for onychomycosis prior to August 27, 2012, and an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter has also been denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability, other than onychomycosis, and headaches, to include as secondary to service-connected disability. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.