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

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, and will be reconsidered after further review.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating higher than 30 percent for eczema was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a 60 percent rating under DC 7806, and thus denied the claim. The issue of service connection for pes planus is remanded for further development.

The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development and clarification of the Veteran's skin disability ratings, including the extent of involvement, duration, and frequency of flares.

The Veteran's folliculitis decalvans and related conditions are being remanded for further evaluation, including consideration of painful scars under DC 7804 and the appropriateness of separate ratings under DC 7800 and DC 7806.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities preventing him from obtaining or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board is remanding the case again to determine if the Veteran's facial skin disorder, including Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB), is related to his service, specifically a documented snakebite in June 1980. Additional medical records are needed for this determination.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for shin splints and bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for neck disorder and psoriasis.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for psoriasis is remanded as it requires an opinion on its etiology.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, but the rating for lateral instability of the left knee was denied. The claim for PFB was also granted.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as incurred in service. The heart disease, psoriasis, and arthritis claims are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinus bradycardia was denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of a heart condition and thus, the first requirement for establishing service connection has not been met.,An initial 30% rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is granted. The Veteran reported frequent episodes of diarrhea and constipation with more or less constant abdominal distress.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension and skin disorder (claimed as PFB) due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) disability is rated under Diagnostic Code 7820-7806. The VA examiner determined that the PFB condition was related to his active military service and service connection was granted. However, the examiner did not record the approximate total body area and exposed body area affected by the PFB condition. The Veteran's PFB disability is rated as an infection of the skin not listed elsewhere in the diagnostic codes pertaining to the rating of skin disabilities codified in 38 C.F.R. § 4.118. Remand is warranted for another VA examination to determine the approximate total body area affected by the PFB condition.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor affected 20 to 40 percent of his entire body or exposed areas, warranting a 30% evaluation from August 2, 2017 forward. The Veteran’s vasomotor rhinitis was productive of less than 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passages prior to June 6, 2018 and greater than 50 percent obstruction thereafter.,The Veteran's tinea versicolor warranted a 30% evaluation from August 2, 2017 forward. The Veteran’s vasomotor rhinitis was rated non-compensable prior to June 6, 2018 and increased to 10% thereafter.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction, spermatocele, and dermatitis due to insufficient opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and TDIU due to his withdrawal of these claims. The right eye disability claim was denied as not related to service, Agent Orange exposure or a service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, left inner ear disorder, right inner ear disorder, tinea pedis with onychomycosis of the feet, and bilateral hearing loss.,There is no current evidence of any diagnosed conditions related to these issues.

The Veteran's petition to reopen previously denied claims for left wrist condition, bilateral ankle tendinitis, and low back condition were granted. The petitions for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's skin disorder, which includes eczema and rashes. The examiner should consider the lay statements regarding symptom onset and continuity.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional VA treatment records and to provide the Veteran with a new VA examination for his bilateral knee disabilities.