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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea pedis and a fungal infection of the foot is denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for acne and hernia repair is granted with effective dates of March 31, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, finding that they do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent. The Veteran’s PFB is currently rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 7806.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and pseudofolliculitis barbae, have been rated appropriately. However, the Board has remanded several issues for further development: service connection for back disability, right leg disability, left leg disability, right foot orthopedic disability, and left foot orthopedic disability.

The Veteran's service records show treatment for a boil on his left shoulder and back pain in service. However, there is no evidence of any chronic condition related to these incidents post-service.,The VA examiner concluded that the current back disability is less likely than not related to an injury or event in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of tinea pedis or an acquired psychiatric disorder during the appeal period. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including gout affecting his ankles and knees, obstructive sleep apnea, lumbosacral degenerative discogenic disease, hypertension, eczema, left occipital neuralgia, plantar fasciitis of the left heel, osteoarthritis of the left first metatarsophalangeal joint, right thumb residual fracture fragmentation, internal hemorrhoids, and status post neoplasm excisions of the large intestine, are found to be so severe that they prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is granted service connection, while his chloracne and skin cancer claims are denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions claimed as resulting from exposure to herbicides, including diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, bilateral hand disability (dupuytren’s contracture), blindness of the left eye, tinea pedis, hiatal hernia with gastric nodule and erosive duodenopathy, bilateral leg pain, bilateral arm pain, and bilateral foot pain. The appeals were dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the claim for service connection of various conditions was not filed within one year of his daughters' 18th birthdays, and thus an earlier effective date could not be granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anemia and tinea versicolor are denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during the appeal period.,Service connection for left groin nerve damage (claimed as left inguinal hernia repair) is granted. The Veteran has sensory impairment, tenderness, and pain as residuals of his left inguinal hernia surgery.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder strain, erectile dysfunction, chronic pain disorder, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, diverticulitis with hiatal hernia and GERD, Barrett's esophagus, and hypothyroidism are all remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for Barrett's esophagus is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for hypothyroidism is remanded.

The Veteran's cause of death is denied as the service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death. The Appellant also does not qualify for death pension benefits due to her income exceeding the statutory maximum.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's eczema is related to his daily exposure to oil, grease, and chemical vapors during active service. As a result, the claim for service connection for eczema (claimed as a skin disorder) is granted.

The petition to reopen claims for service connection for prostate condition and memory loss, as well as the claim for increased rating for onychomycosis and tinea unguium of the fingernails, were all denied. The Veteran's prostate condition was not related to his service or exposure to Agent Orange. His memory loss is not one of the enumerated disabilities for which service connection can be granted based on exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran's onychomycosis and tinea unguium are rated at 10 percent, but no higher due to lack of more than topical therapy required over the past year.

The Veteran's varicose veins of the right and left lower extremities are rated at 10 percent each, but his stasis dermatitis is only rated as ten percent for both feet combined. The Board has remanded to address TDIU.,TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,For the period on appeal, the Veteran’s right wrist tendonitis and left wrist tendonitis have not resulted in functional limitations that warrant a higher rating than the currently assigned 10 percent ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of left wrist surgery were denied. The Board found no evidence of current or previously diagnosed skin conditions, and the Veteran was already receiving the maximum schedular rating for his left wrist disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and service connection for Hepatitis C, fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, hypertension, and headaches are granted. The initial rating for seborrheic dermatitis remains unchanged.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hemorrhoids. The appeal regarding a compensable rating for service-connected eczema is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an increased rating to 70%, and she is also granted a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.