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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PFB and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, insomnia, and sleep disturbances. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disorder, neck disorder, low back disorder, right knee disorder, pseudofolliculitis barbae, bilateral hearing loss, heart disorder, and acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression), finding no new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of his gout, atherosclerosis, PVD, and pancreatitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including multiple sclerosis with bilateral lower extremity paresthesias and loss of use of both lower extremities, meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing due to his permanent and total disability.

The Board denied service connection for acne with scarring and unspecified anxiety/depressive disorders, finding that the Veteran's conditions existed prior to his military service and did not undergo an increase in severity during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, right hand condition (as secondary to a service connected disease or injury), dry eye syndrome, pseudofolliculitis, and diabetes. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back condition and psoriasis were denied. The Board found that the current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to May 28, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability (claimed as nose lesions) and psoriasis, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to military service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship of the Veteran's skin conditions to service or any related in-service exposures (herbicide agents and/or sunlight).

The Veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, but he did not have a total disability rating at any time. Therefore, the claims for service connection for cause of death and for accrued benefits are denied, as is the DIC claim.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for eczema is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically whether his service-connected PTSD caused or contributed to his metastatic colon cancer.

The Veteran's skin condition, previously diagnosed as tina versicolor of the chest and back with seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp, is rated at 10 percent. The Board has ordered a remand to determine if the current treatment qualifies for a higher rating based on systemic therapy.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral foot disabilities, folliculitis, and headaches. The Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities were not shown to have been aggravated by service, while his folliculitis was found to be related to service. His headaches were determined to be due to alcohol abuse rather than service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there was no new and material evidence submitted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for dermatitis of the feet was granted due to a finding that his condition began in service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right hand burn residuals, as well as the impact of all his service-connected disabilities on his occupational and daily functioning. The issues of TDIU and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status are also referred back to the AOJ.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for dyshidrotic eczema, bilateral feet due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether topical corticosteroid treatment is systemic therapy.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae was caused or aggravated by his military service. The examiner should assess whether it is at least as likely as not related to his active service.