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

The Veteran's eye disorder, elbow disorder, shoulder disorder, bilateral foot disorder, kidney stones, sleep disorder, and skin disorders are not service-connected. The Veteran's vision problems during service were corrected with glasses/contact lenses.

The Board has granted service connection for folliculitis and hyperpigmentation, finding that these conditions began during service and are directly related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to Agent Orange. The decision also notes that there is no evidence of a diagnosis of chloracne prior to the appeal period.

The Veteran's hypertension is caused by his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea, and thus he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of her claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and diabetic nephropathy, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and job skills. The Board granted entitlement to a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for tinea pedis was denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, as well as his renal disorder. The Board found no evidence of such conditions in service or due to service.,Service connection was also denied for tinea pedis and cruris, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae was rated at 30 percent effective April 27, 2015. The right finger exostosis claim is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are reasonably shown to be of such nature and severity as to preclude his participation in any regular substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further development due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a link between his in-service stressors and current psychiatric disability, nor could it be presumed due to exposure to herbicides. For skin disorders, the issue remains pending as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his left ankle, upper gastrointestinal, and dermatitis conditions.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for skin cancer, including as secondary to his service-connected chronic tinea type rash, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and an addendum opinion from a dermatologist.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Raynaud's syndrome of the hands and feet, as well as his claim for an initial compensable rating for tinea pedis both feet and onychomycosis toenails. The Veteran's conditions are not considered to be related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from maintaining full-time employment during the entire appeal period.

The Veteran has effectively lost use of his lower extremities due to service-connected Parkinson's disease, and is therefore eligible for specially adapted housing. The claims for service connection for diverticulitis and an earlier effective date for Parkinson's disease have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that service connection for quiescent herpes simplex is warranted. The issue of service connection for a skin disorder other than quiescent herpes simplex, to include contact dermatitis and/or as an undiagnosed illness under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317, is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The case is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae and service connection for tinnitus are pending.

The Veteran has pseudofolliculitis barbae that he had in service and continues to have since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's skin disability, superficial acne and pseudofolliculitis barbae, is rated at 30 percent under DC 7806 due to the need for oral systemic therapy such as a corticosteroid for approximately six weeks.