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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied, while his claim to reopen a previous denial of service connection for a skin disorder was granted. Service connection is established for folliculitis but not for other skin disorders.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine spondylosis, left ankle sprain, residuals of a broken nose, tuberculosis (TB), and psoriasis as they are not related to active duty service.,Service connection was also denied for bladder cancer due to occupational exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent is already assigned, and no higher rating can be granted under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The Veteran's left foot disability, migraine headaches, PTSD, GAD, acid reflux, penile deformity with erectile dysfunction, PFB, scar of the dorsal surface of the left foot, and painful scar of the left foot are all service connected. The Veteran is granted an initial rating of at least 30 percent for his migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran has a current skin disorder related to service, and to assess the severity of his left knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for tinea pedis and remanded the issue of entitlement to an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral foot disability (flat feet and plantar fasciitis), and psoriasis due to new evidence obtained after the March 2009 rating decision. The claims will be adjudicated on a de novo basis.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected acne with rosacea is remanded due to the need for a contemporaneous examination and updated treatment records.

The claim for service connection of ischemic heart disease is dismissed. The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's psoriatic arthritis is rated at 60 percent effective June 2, 2016. The RO denied a higher rating for coronary artery disease and denied an earlier effective date for service connection of psoriatic arthritis.,The Veteran's psoriasis is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's initial claim for pseudofolliculitis barbae was granted, but the assigned noncompensable evaluation is being remanded due to a lack of scarring and need for additional medical records.

The Board denied service connection for gallstones and the Veteran's claimed upper-GI disability, urinary tract disability, and chronic fungal infection of the skin. The decision also granted reconsideration of the claim for a chronic fungal infection of the skin.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient service treatment records and the need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's tinea versicolor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right great toe fracture, bilateral hearing loss, and nummular eczema due to unclear evidence regarding the pre-service status of his right toe condition and the current severity of his hearing loss and eczema.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and needs further clarification regarding the Veteran's skin disorders, including Ichthyosis vulgaris.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete VA examination and the need for clarification on the relationship between his service-connected seborrheic dermatitis and other skin conditions, as well as the percentage coverage of his body affected by these conditions.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with insomnia was reduced from a 30% rating to noncompensable effective August 1, 2015. The reduction is granted as the evidence showed improvement in the Veteran’s condition.

The Board denied service connection for skin rashes other than tinea pedis and denied an initial rating of 10 percent for left hand strain. The Veteran's symptoms were not sufficient to meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board dismissed the claim of service connection for eczema due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bladder dysfunction, CAD, diabetes mellitus, Type II) are considered to have contributed substantially or materially to his death from COPD.