Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and remand issues must be addressed due to the need for additional VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for PFB is remanded due to inadequate VA examination and the need for a new one.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for several issues, including those related to pes planus, migraines, pseudofolliculitis barbae, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, bursitis of the right hip (limitation of flexion), bursitis of the right hip (impairment of thigh), bursitis of the right hip (limitation of extension), and lumbar strain. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition. The issues of service connection for PFB, an acquired psychiatric condition (to include depression), hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been withdrawn and are dismissed. The issues were related to whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims of entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for retropatellar pain syndrome, both knees; left foot tinea pedis; and low back pain were denied in the May 1997 rating decision. The May 2009 rating decisions granted increased ratings for bilateral tinea pedis and separate evaluations for right and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits were remanded due to the lack of a copy of the February 2016 letter of determination and incomplete vocational rehabilitation files. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these documents, associate them with the electronic claims file, and arrange for a functional capacity evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error regarding the service connection for skin disabilities, specifically inflamed seborrheic keratosis and acne. The VA needs to obtain an addendum opinion from a medical expert to clarify if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, as his combined disability rating is only 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete service personnel records and discrepancies in the Veteran's medical reports. The claims of service connection for a skin disorder, increased rating for a lumbar spine disability, and initial rating for a psychiatric disorder are all being reviewed.

The Veteran's hypertension and headaches are granted service connection.,Service connection for fatigue disability, vesicular dermatitis, gastrointestinal disorder, sleep apnea, joint pain, and muscle pain is denied.

An effective date of August 22, 2011 for the grant of service connection for chloracne is granted.,Entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for chloracne with residual scarring is denied.

The Veteran's cause of death was congestive heart failure. The Board finds that the Appellant’s accrued benefits claim is inextricably intertwined with the claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death and thus, a remand is required to adjudicate both claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance, as he is able to feed himself and perform most self-care tasks with assistance.

The Board dismissed all the Veteran's claims as it had no jurisdiction to adjudicate them under the Appeals Modernization Act.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the use of immunosuppressive drugs and systemic therapy for the Veteran's folliculitis with acne. The claim will be reconsidered after additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination regarding skin disabilities, and additional development is needed including obtaining updated treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and folliculitis, finding that both conditions began during the Veteran's deployment to Iraq.

The Veteran's service connection claims for psoriasis, arthritis inflammation (psoriatic arthritis), left hip disability, and right knee disability have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to an in-service injury or disease.,Secondary service connection was also denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship between the Veteran's service-connected groin disabilities and his hip and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess his dermatitis of the bilateral hands and obtaining updated information regarding his employment status. The TDIU claim is also remanded.