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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right elbow disability, bilateral pes planus, bilateral hallux valgus with bunions, and toenail disability are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's folliculitis is related to service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a skin disorder. The decision also addressed initial compensable ratings for left and right hamstring muscle strains but did not assign any rating or effective date.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his service connection claims for various conditions has been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's dermatitis of the left extensor arm and elbow is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of her condition.

The Veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy with glaucoma and cataracts, and other conditions. Special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated medical records.

The Board finds that the Veteran's onychomycosis, dyshidrotic eczema, and acne vulgaris are related to his military service. The preponderance of evidence is in favor of granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's OSA and skin disorder claims are denied as there is no evidence of record to support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service, including presumed herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, including as due to exposure to herbicides and/or secondary to ischemic heart disease or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in January 2018.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor is rated as noncompensable due to less than five percent of the total body and exposed areas being affected, with no systemic therapy required.,There is no current diagnosis of dysentery in the record. The Veteran has not provided credible evidence that he experienced a stressor during service which would support a PTSD diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disorder or disability of either hand, bilateral foot disorder was incurred in service, and eczema was incurred in service. No other conditions were found to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for compensable initial ratings for left foot hallux valgus, left foot hammer toes, and bilateral onychomycosis toenails and tinea pedis were denied as the evidence did not show that any of these conditions warranted a compensable rating.

The Veteran's chronic headaches are characterized by very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50% rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient competent medical evidence on file for the service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA skin examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's skin disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected eczema, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on the current criteria.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is denied as the earliest possible effective date is November 22, 2011 due to the grant of service connection for bilateral lower extremity residuals of cold injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition (claimed as chloracne, itchy rash to face and skin condition) due to exposure to herbicides is denied. The Veteran's claim for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is also denied.