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

The Veteran's skin condition, specifically tinea versicolor, is rated at 60 percent. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise that his skin disability affects more than 40 percent of his body. Other issues related to heart conditions and hypertension are remanded.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of a lumbar spine disorder with radiculopathy, tinea cruris (jock itch), fungus of both feet, and headaches. The preponderance of the evidence does not show these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for dermatitis is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's acne vulgaris with scarring is rated at 30 percent since January 31, 2012.,Bilateral hammertoes are each rated at 10 percent since the date of receipt of his claim for an increased rating.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for alcohol and drug dependency, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, lower back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been reopened due to new evidence received since previous denials. However, the Board finds that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to service or post-service treatment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for his right shoulder scars, bilateral toe scars, or resection of metatarsal heads. His hearing loss was rated appropriately under VA guidelines. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and anxiety) was granted as new and material evidence had been received since the last denial in 2006.

The Veteran's dermatitis has improved, with less than 5% of the entire body or exposed areas affected and no systemic therapy required. The Board finds that a compensable evaluation is not warranted.

The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus was caused by service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected persistent insomnia disorder associated with dermatitis of the scalp is currently rated at 30 percent, and his claim for a higher rating has been denied.

For the period prior to October 29, 2014, a rating of 60 percent for service-connected eczema is granted. For the period from October 29, 2014 and thereafter, a higher rating for eczema is denied.

The Board found no error in the June 2009 rating decision's calculation of the combined total rating of 60 percent and denied the Veteran's claim for a higher combined rating.

The Veteran is granted service connection for a skin disorder, presumed due to his Vietnam-era herbicide exposure. The Board also grants service connection for PTSD based on credible testimony of in-service stressors.,For the left knee and hearing loss claims, these are being remanded as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin disorder, including folliculitis and MRSA, is not causally or etiologically related to active service, and specifically not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's acne vulgaris scarring of the head, face, or neck is rated at 50 percent under Code 7800 due to visible or palpable tissue loss and asymmetry. The other issues related to acne scars are not compensably disabling.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, and increased ratings for seborrheic dermatitis of the face, neck, and scalp, and superficial acne of the chest, upper back, and shoulder. The Board found that there was no evidence to support the Veteran's claim for service connection based on his in-service knee injury, and denied both skin disability claims as well.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension, as well as increased ratings for other conditions. Additional development is needed to obtain complete STRs and SPRs, conduct a VA examination, and provide the Veteran with an SOC.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for muscle pain and tinea versicolor, as well as an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's eczema of the hands and feet has not met the criteria for a compensable rating prior to October 4, 2016 or any increased rating thereafter.

The Veteran's skin condition, including eczema, is not shown to have onset during or be related to his active service. The Board finds no evidence linking the current skin condition to his military service, including exposure to herbicides.