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

The Veteran's application to reopen her claim for service connection for hypertension was denied. Service connection for bilateral foot disabilities, left foot hammertoes, and arthritis of the cervical spine were granted. The issues regarding service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine and an ear disability (to include dermatitis or eczema) are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for dysthymic disorder was withdrawn. The Board granted service connection for low back disability, tinea versicolor, and denied service connection for Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and bilateral foot disorders.

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

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional private treatment records related to his skin conditions. The VA will attempt to obtain these records and then reassess the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PFB warrants a 10 percent rating, but not higher. The appeal for service connection of HTN and its secondary effects on kidney disease, CAD, and stroke is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. TDIU remains inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected skin disabilities have required constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs during the past 12-month period, leading to a 60 percent rating for tinea cruris, tinea pedis, genital herpes, and post-inflammatory hypopigmentation on right thigh and legs from February 2, 2009.

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

The Board has granted the claim for service connection of acne and assigned a rating of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development due to the Veteran's incarceration and inability to obtain necessary medical records. The claims include service connection for various conditions such as shell fragment wound, hearing loss, tinnitus, sinus condition, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), hypertension, gastrointestinal condition, skin problems, and sleeping disorder.

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

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 0 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating is remanded.,The Veteran's recurrent dermatitis has been rated at 0 percent under Diagnostic Code 7806. The appeal for a higher rating is remanded as there is no evidence of exposure to at least 5% of his entire body or exposed areas, and no intermittent systemic therapy required.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity has been rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 8520. The appeal for a higher rating (40%) is remanded as there is no evidence of severe, incomplete paralysis with muscular atrophy.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent from April 30, 2009 for service-connected bilateral foot disability and ratings in excess of 10 percent prior to April 30, 2009 for each foot disability. Additionally, the TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has granted the claim for service connection of acne and denied a rating for it.

The Veteran's skin condition of the bilateral hands and feet is remanded for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records, private treatment records, and a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to service exposure.

The Board has previously remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA vocational rehabilitation records and providing a VA examination to assess the impact of service-connected disabilities on employability. The case is being remanded again due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened and granted for DDD of the lumbar spine and sacroiliitis, right hemi-pelvis. The claim for PFB was not reopened, while the duodenal ulcer claim remains denied.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is granted a 40 percent rating from July 7, 2008 to July 15, 2009. A separate 10 percent rating for right lumbar radiculopathy is granted effective July 7, 2008 and a 20 percent rating is granted effective February 9, 2017.

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

The Board has granted service connection for cluster headaches and remanded the issue of service connection for a skin disability, to include pseudofolliculitis barbae.