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

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, benign prostatic hypertrophy, high cholesterol, tinea cruris, sinusitis, and a psychiatric disability (PTSD, depression, anxiety), have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's skin disorder, including dermatitis, is not related to his service or herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for PFB, entitlement to an increased rating for tinea pedis and tinea versicolor currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for migraine headaches, to include consideration of an extraschedular rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.321 (b)(1), and entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA skin examination and the provision of any outstanding medical records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for eczematous eruptions and granted it as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus, Type II.

The Veteran's chronic dermatitis with residuals of dorsal surface of both hands has been rated at 30 percent since August 30, 2002.

The Veteran's dermatophytosis with tinea pedis has not affected more than 40 percent of the entire body or exposed areas, and does not require constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as corticosteroids. Therefore, a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his right middle finger scar and limitation of motion, as well as the TDIU claim, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were not rated higher than the current 30 percent assigned.,His left foot bunion with pes planus was rated at 30 percent prior to August 14, 2015 and his bilateral flat feet are currently rated at 30 percent from that date.

The Veteran's skin disorder is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and the Board denies the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the scheduled hearing.

The Veteran meets the schedular percentage requirements for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, and the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. As such, the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right and left knee disorders, variously diagnosed, are proximately due to or caused by his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran is also found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is granted from July 1, 1991. The criteria for an extraschedular TDIU have been met due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and partial complex seizure disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss with history of otitis media and otitis externa, right ear otitis media and otitis externa, and tinea pedis have been rated as noncompensably disabling (0%). The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and examination, including for a VA examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's atopic dermatitis and allergies.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for dermatitis/xerosis has been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing and issues related to service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the February 1, 2007 rating decision assigning a 30 percent disability rating for status post-total abdominal hysterectomy was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The Veteran's ovaries were not removed during her surgery, which is why she only received a 30 percent evaluation.