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

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. The RO must obtain updated VA treatment records from various facilities and associate them with the claims file.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for a compensable rating for tinea pedis, migraines, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the appellant's withdrawal of these issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral knee disability, skin disability (eczema), residuals of a head injury, tinnitus, and loss of teeth, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not show continuity of symptoms since service and there was no medical nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for high cholesterol, PTSD, left carpal tunnel syndrome, scar from cesarean sections, hysterectomy, left oophorectomy, tinnitus, pelvic pain after childbirth, right shoulder dislocation, rhinitis and sinusitis (claimed as allergies), bilateral plantar fasciitis, hypertension, eczema, lumbar spine arthritis, cervical spine arthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and severe alopecia (claimed as cicatrical scarring alopecia) for additional development to verify service records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a permanent and total disability that precludes locomotion without the aid of assistive devices, such as a wheelchair or cane. The Board has granted specially adapted housing for this reason.

The Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for rash and sores has been reopened. The Board also remanded the cases of PTSD, invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the right ear, actinic keratosis, and actinic dermatitis due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for seborrheic dermatitis as secondary to service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood as secondary to service-connected PFB, diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is found to have its onset during active duty service, and the Board finds that his current condition is related to service. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tinea pedis is rated at 0 percent and hypertension is remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 60 percent rating for acne was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition increased in severity prior to February 16, 2007.

The Board has remanded several claims, including the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae and his service connection claims for low back disability, sleep apnea disability, and bilateral foot fungus disability. The AOJ must schedule new VA examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on GERD, right shoulder disability, and seborrheic dermatitis have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his claims by his authorized representative.

The Veteran's 60 percent rating for chronic scalp folliculitis is restored, as the condition continues to meet the criteria for a 60 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for onychomycosis and bilateral tinea pedis are remanded due to the need for a contemporaneous VA examination.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for the appellant's low back disability, granted a 40 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy, and denied ratings for other conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin condition other than tinea cruris is not related to his active service and denied the claim.

The Board found that the withholding of drill pay and termination of benefits for training days in fiscal years 2009 through 2012 was proper, as it did not violate the prohibition on concurrent receipt of active service pay and VA disability compensation.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for vocal mucosa and allergic dermatitis have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for COPD and angina/coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for clarification regarding the Veteran's use of topical medications, including corticosteroids, and their impact on his service-connected tinea corporis (ringworm).