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

The Board denied service connection for right ankle condition, left ankle condition, and granulomatous disease with lymph nodes. Service connection was granted for eczema.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to perform daily activities of living without the assistance of another, and he is granted SMC for aid and attendance from another person.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, chronic low back disorder, psoriasis, right knee disability, and right lower extremity disability (including shin splints) have been granted. The appeals are remanded for further development regarding the right knee and right lower extremity disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, eczema, and psoriasis. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to conflicting evidence regarding employment status and a need for further examination to assess occupational impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's skin disability and its relationship to service, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's asymptomatic dermatitis is related to his active service or secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's eczema was initially rated as noncompensable before June 15, 2016 and granted a 30 percent rating after that date.,His hypertension was initially denied prior to June 15, 2016 but granted a 10 percent rating after that date. The Veteran's cranial nerve paralysis was granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is for a higher disability rating for his skin condition, which the Board finds requires further examination to determine its severity.

The Veteran's facet osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with central canal and foraminal stenosis, tinea pedis (athlete's foot), and hypertension have been granted service connection.,Further examination is needed to determine if there are any residual issues from a shrapnel wound to the stomach.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 13, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, and pseudofolliculitis barbae as they are not related to the Veteran's service or any service-connected disabilities.,Service connection was also denied for increased ratings of the Veteran’s left and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's chronic bilateral lower extremity dermatitis was granted a 60% rating for the period between April 1, 2011 and February 28, 2013. A higher rating is not warranted since March 1, 2013.

The Veteran's skin condition, including folliculitis with underlying asteatotic dermatitis, is denied as not related to service or exposure to Agent Orange. The prostate cancer claim for an increased evaluation prior to March 18, 2016, is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as his combined disability rating is only 80%, which does not meet the minimum schedular percentage requirements.

The Veteran's hypertension was noted on his entrance examination and did not increase in severity during service. The Board finds the medical opinion of record to be more probative than the Veteran’s lay assertions regarding the etiology and severity of his hypertension.,An addendum opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's pre-existing skin condition existed prior to service, was aggravated by service, or is related to in-service symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including upper respiratory condition, hypertension, folliculitis, headaches, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for a lung disability and chloracne, finding no evidence of current disabilities or causation in service. The Veteran's lung disabilities were not related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, and his skin issues resolved long after service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for recurrent bronchitis, dermatitis on face and ears, nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), and ehrlichiosis is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals. The Board also denied service connection for these conditions due to lack of current disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, cervical spondylosis C5-C6 and C6-C7, eczema, hearing loss, low back degenerative disc disease, PTSD, right elbow lateral epicondylitis, right shoulder rotator cuff pathology, and tinnitus are all granted service connection.,Effective dates for the above conditions have been set at December 16, 2009.