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

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him in need of regular aid and assistance, which is granted for SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including the service connection for various disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for dermatophytosis, to include pseudofolliculitis barbae, finding that he does not have a confirmed diagnosis of pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and acne with scarring due to insufficient medical opinions addressing causation, aggravation, and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The herniorrhaphy scar, folliculitis, bilateral big toenail removal, onychomycosis of the great toes, and inguinal hernia are all rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were dismissed. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, neck disorder, and low back disorder due to lack of evidence on aggravation.

The Board dismissed the appeal of issues related to bilateral trapezius muscle disability, chest pain, and increased evaluations for left and right hip disabilities due to the absence of an adequate substantive appeal.,An evaluation in excess of 10 percent was denied for dermatitis as it did not meet the criteria under DC 7804 or any other applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and physical impairments, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU benefits.

The Board has decided that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current skin disorders are related to his service, including presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for tender scars of the head, face or neck with pseudofolliculitis barbae and acne keloidosis of the scalp is denied as there is no legal or factual basis for such.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right eye cataract, and dermatitis were all found to have begun during active service. The Board granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, cervical spine degenerative joint and disc disease, lumbar spine degenerative joint and disc disease, bilateral pterygium, and truncal dermatitis and onychomycosis of the bilateral great toe nails require additional development due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The Veteran's maxillary/ethmoid sinusitis with left nasal deformity, status post rhinoplasty, is granted a maximum schedular rating of 50 percent. The Veteran's herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine L5-S1, status post lumbar laminotomy and diskectomy, with degenerative joint disease and invertebral disc syndrome, is denied any increase beyond the current 40 percent rating. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is also denied any increase beyond the current 20 percent rating. The Veteran's contact dermatitis of the feet and HPV are both denied initial compensable ratings.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for tinea pedis, a rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder strain, and hearing loss were dismissed. The appeal for a higher rating for tension headaches was granted to a non-compensable level.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's dermatitis from December 18, 2010 to March 14, 2018 is rated at 30 percent. This rating applies until further notice.

The Veteran's claim for two clothing allowances due to the use of selenium sulfide and benzoyl peroxide for his service-connected skin conditions (tinea versicolor and herpes zoster) is granted. The Board found that each condition requires its own treatment, leading to separate damage to the Veteran's clothing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient information regarding his in-service exposure to hazardous toxins and/or ionizing radiation. The RO must verify the Veteran’s claimed exposures and then readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's skin disorders, including prurigo nodularis, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, folliculitis or possible acne variant, epidermoid cyst, and tinea pedis, were not shown to be related to service, including Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases of pseudofolliculitis barbae and bilateral flatfoot/pes planus for further development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.