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

The Veteran's fibromyalgia, gout, rhinitis, acne vulgaris and PFB, hypertension, erectile dysfunction (ED), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and sleep apnea have been granted service connection. The effective date for the grant of service connection is December 10, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a skin disability, other than residuals of cellulitis and epidermophytosis of the feet, on a secondary basis due to lack of discussion in the September 2012 decision regarding the theory of secondary service connection. The case is now pending with an addendum opinion needed from a VA clinician.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits related to education and training for a career as a licensed social worker is remanded due to incomplete documentation. The AOJ must obtain the Veteran's medical records, assess his current employment feasibility, and provide him with vocational rehabilitation assessments.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinea pedis and a skin disability (including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma) as there is no evidence that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a left ankle disability has been granted. The Board has also remanded several other issues including increased ratings and service connection claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a bilateral foot condition, left knee disability, migraines, and pseudofolliculitis barbae due to the need for further development. The Veteran will be afforded VA examinations to assess his current diagnoses and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the evidence is new and material, as it relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim - his tinnitus being related to noise exposure during service.,For the bilateral hearing loss disability, the Veteran's claim was not reopened because no new and material evidence was received since the April 2012 rating decision. The Board found that the evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim - his hearing loss not being related to service.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for various conditions and a compensable evaluation for erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's claims for venereal disease, left ankle condition, skin condition, and iron deficiency anemia are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has granted a 10 percent initial rating for left foot disability and denied higher ratings. The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent since March 1, 2013. The claim for eczema was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a compensable disability rating for tinea pedis has been dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II is granted, but the case is remanded for further examination of his malaria condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for higher ratings due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for more contemporaneous examinations.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is rated at a noncompensable level prior to October 26, 2018. As of that date, he is granted a 10 percent disability rating for the associated scar.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for polycythemia rubra vera with deep vein thrombosis and eczematous dermatitis have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination. The Board found that new evidence has raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims, but further evaluation is needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for eczema and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the lack of recent medical evidence and the need for a retrospective medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, shoulder conditions, and PTSD, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding his use of topical corticosteroids in treating tinea pedis, as well as the need to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions regarding his claims of service connection for sleep apnea, kidney cancer, chloracne, an enlarged prostate, and increased rating for diabetes mellitus.

The appeal of service connection claims for a jaw condition, acne, GERD, bowel condition, and shortness of breath is dismissed. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits is remanded due to the need for a complete vocational rehabilitation file and additional evaluations. The Veteran also needs to provide evidence of unsuccessful attempts at employment in his chosen fields.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus. The issues of service connection for chloracne, sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy, skin cancer, and gall bladder removal are remanded.