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

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disability, chronic tinea pedis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus should be remanded due to insufficient evidence. The AOJ is instructed to obtain relevant medical records and assist the Veteran in identifying his military occupational specialty and any noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's claim for a left arm disability is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that any current left arm condition began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury.,The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted as it is related to his active service.,The Veteran's claims for a back disability, eye disability, skin disability (including rash, scabies, nevus, and eczema), and herpes simplex virus are all remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations.,The Veteran has not provided sufficient evidence or argument to establish service connection for any of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his claims for increased ratings of chronic acid-dyspepsia disorder and bilateral tinea pedis with corns.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for dermatitis and neurodermatitis. The Veteran's preexisting skin condition was not permanently aggravated beyond its natural progression during active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for eczema, sleep apnea, and low back muscle strain due to insufficient evidence in some areas. The Veteran is to be provided with VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Board has dismissed all pending appeals due to the appellant's withdrawal of his claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records from Miami, Florida and private treatment records from Dr. R.B.S., as well as verifying his periods of active duty reserve service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal disorder and hidradenitis/folliculitis due to new VA treatment records being associated with his case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a lumbar disorder, right hip disorder, skin disorder, acquired psychiatric disorders, and hypertension. The VA is instructed to obtain relevant medical records and conduct further examinations and opinions as needed.

The Veteran's tinea pedis is rated under 38 C.F.R. § 4.118, Diagnostic Code (DC) 7813 and the Board has ordered a remand to determine if his treatment with topical medications like Clobetasol, Benadryl, and Clotrimazole constitutes systemic therapy.

The Veteran's tinea pedis and onychomycosis were previously rated at 30 percent, but the Board found that reduction to zero percent was improper. The case is remanded for a new examination and updated treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) as the evidence did not show that it began during active service or was otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected atopic dermatitis, including the propriety of reducing her 10% rating to November 1, 2017, is being remanded due to additional evidence received since the January 2018 SOC.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives regarding the issue of service connection for eczema. A new medical opinion is needed to determine if it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's eczema had its onset during or is otherwise causally related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted, as well as a 60% rating for eczema and psoriasis effective February 13, 2013. The claim for an earlier effective date for the PTSD with MDD rating has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed skin disabilities, including psoriasis and dyshidrotic eczema of the bilateral hands and feet and groin area, did not have their onset during active service and are not otherwise related to active service. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding of a nexus between the Veteran’s conditions and his presumed herbicide exposure or secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder with depression, hypertension, and/or coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's chronic eczematoid dermatitis is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a compensably disabling condition within one year of separation from active duty.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression was also denied due to lack of evidence of a disability during the year following separation and current evidence not related to service. ,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for dermatitis was denied as there is no evidence that at least 5% of his body or exposed areas are affected by the condition.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability ratings for tinea pedis of the right and left feet have been denied. A 10 percent rating based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities has also been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea are granted. The claim for left small toe disability is dismissed, and the Veteran receives a compensable rating (10%) for ingrown toenail of the left great toe. Service connection for PFB is denied.