Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for chloracne related to herbicide exposure and service connection for throat cancer. The Veteran was not granted a retroactive award due to lack of one year prior to enactment of the relevant law, and his claim for throat cancer is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinea versicolor did not warrant higher initial ratings prior to October 18, 2016, and from October 18, 2016. The disability affected less than 40% of his total body area at all times.

The Board found no evidence of a current right wrist disorder or left wrist degenerative arthritis that is related to service.,The Veteran's skin condition other than his service-connected eczema and verruca vulgaris was not diagnosed during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing an adequate addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the relationship between the Veteran's skin disorders and his service, specifically considering his conceded in-service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increases in the ratings for PTSD and dyshidrotic eczema of the hands and feet. The Board has no further jurisdiction to consider these matters.

The Veteran's service-connected tinea pedis and onychomycosis have not been shown to warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities as of May 21, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected prostatitis and other conditions rendered him incapable of securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to October 16, 2012. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of degenerative disc disease of the low back. The Veteran's eczematous dermatitis of both lower extremities, including the feet, was incurred in service.

The Veteran is granted a rating of 70 percent for PTSD throughout the appeal period.,Service connection for tinea versicolor is granted. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU from September 9, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have chloracne and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, is also denied as there is no current diagnosis of a psychiatric disability.

The Veteran is seeking effective dates earlier than June 15, 2015, for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and psoriasis. The Board finds that there is no basis upon which to award effective dates earlier than the June 15, 2015, effective date already assigned.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no higher schedular disability rating available under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.,The Veteran's skin condition has been evaluated as noncompensable since December 2014 and 30 percent from February 3, 2015. The VA examinations have not provided sufficient evidence to warrant a higher evaluation.,The Veteran's COPD is currently rated at 30 percent effective August 16, 2010. The VA examinations have not provided sufficient evidence to warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings and initial compensable ratings for various service-connected disabilities. The issues were remanded multiple times, but the requested development has not been completed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pityriasis rosea and tinea cruris was denied. The Board found that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of tinea cruris, but it is not related to his in-service episode of pityriasis rosea.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is manifested by coverage of more than 40 percent of his face and neck area, requiring the near-constant use of a corticosteroid for the past 12 months. The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal of all claims related to physical or mental illness.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection, finding that his initial claims were abandoned due to failure to provide necessary information about his separation from active duty. The Board also found that he was not entitled to an earlier effective date for his right knee and skin disabilities as they occurred after he had already left active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected skin condition was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to October 30, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions including lumbar spine issues and dermatological problems. The Board has ordered a remand to reassess the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for myasthenia gravis, chloracne, and gum disease are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.