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

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's nonservice-connected skin disabilities are related to his service-connected tinea cruris, and for obtaining a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's skin disorders, including eczema, basal cell carcinoma of the upper and lower extremities, and squamous cell carcinoma of the neck, based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange during his military service.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae skin disability was granted service connection and rated at 30 percent effective December 23, 2015. The claim for an increased rating is granted.

The Board denied service connection for acne due to burn pit exposure, finding no direct evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bursitis of the right knee, Haglund's deformity of bilateral heels, lower back condition, acid reflux, bilateral callus condition of the feet, and pseudofolliculitis. The appeals are granted to that extent.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating and earlier effective date for chloracne was denied. The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding of deep acne affecting less than 40 percent of the face and neck, or other than on the face and neck. The matter of an earlier effective date remains pending as the AOJ has not issued an SOC for this issue.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and a rating for acne has been granted, with the highest possible rating of 100%.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether any of the Veteran's diagnosed skin conditions are related to his active duty service, including exposure to herbicides and jet fuel.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for ingrown toenail, folliculitis, carbuncle, residuals of TBI, gingivitis, and periodontitis due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and remanded the issues of service connection for a neck condition, lower back condition, shortness of breath, and sleeping disorder.

The Board has denied service connection for hemorrhoids due to the lack of current evidence of a disability. The case is remanded for obtaining VA medical records and scheduling the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination regarding his left and right foot tinea pedis.

The Board found that a timely substantive appeal was not received as to the July 2004 rating decision, which denied service connection for numbness arms and legs, residual from laceration right medial calf, hypertension, residual of battery acid in left eye, and right shoulder rotator cuff tear. The Veteran's claim for major depressive disorder was granted with an effective date of December 12, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and a rating for acne has been granted, with the highest possible rating of 100%.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae and acne have not been rated higher than the current evaluations, with the abscesses requiring further development.,Residuals of recurrent abscesses with scarring are being remanded for additional information.

The Board denied service connection for acne due to burn pit exposure, finding no direct evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's service-connected dermatitis is rated at 10 percent, effective as of the date of this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acne, due to exposure to burn pits during service, is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae and remanded the issue of increasing rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for back disability, asthma, and eczema as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted. The Board found that new evidence supports the reopening of the claim, but denied service connection due to lack of a nexus between current tinnitus and active service. The Veteran is not entitled to SMC based on need for aid and attendance or automobile/adaptive equipment benefits.