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

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating for various conditions have been granted, but his claim for an effective date prior to August 11, 2014, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus has been denied. His initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is also denied.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae is also denied. Service connection for a bilateral foot disorder remains in dispute as the case must be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hand conditions (including fibromyalgia), left shoulder strain, bilateral wrist strains, and bilateral knee sprains. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is also under review.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to his request to withdraw all claims on appeal.

The Veteran's initial hearing loss rating was denied, and his claims for hiatal hernia, eczema, and sinusitis were remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his traumatic dermatitis of the left leg with recurrent cellulitis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been granted service connection with an effective date of March 21, 1996. The Board also found that the Veteran has other disabilities for which he is already receiving service connection.,Service connection was established for sleep apnea and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for atopic dermatitis was denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for any higher rating under either the old or new VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity neurodermatitis has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board is remanding to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient examination reports and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to an extraschedular rating for his service-connected skin disabilities in August 2017. The Court found that the Board failed to provide adequate reasons and bases for its findings, particularly regarding non-dermatological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and impaired social functioning due to the skin condition. The Veteran's claim is remanded for further development and compliance with instructions set forth in the October 2018 Joint Motion for Partial Remand.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep disorder, service connection for sleep apnea, initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for GERD, and initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae. The RO must consider all submitted evidence before making a decision.

The Veteran was granted service connection for eczematous dermatitis and a rating of 70 percent for his psychiatric disability effective September 11, 2017. He received TDIU beginning that date.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during active service. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s sleep apnea is related to service or proximately due to his service-connected PTSD. The issues of acid reflux, alopecia, diverticulitis, migraines, athlete’s foot of the right foot, athlete’s foot of the left foot, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, chronic bronchitis, hemorrhoids, right foot heel spur, left foot heel spur, right knee disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and pseudofolliculitis barbae are remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae was dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal in a January 2016 letter, stating he was satisfied with all pending appeals.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues with initial ratings for various disabilities, including acne of the face and back. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating remains pending.

The appeal for service connection for sensitive teeth is dismissed. Service connection for a skin disability is granted. The appeals for right arm fracture residuals and bilateral hand arthritis are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to address the severity of the Veteran's service-connected skin condition. The infertility claim is not granted as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome is currently rated at 20 percent after December 2, 2014.,Folliculitis of the occipital scalp was granted a rating of 30 percent effective from December 2, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for cardiomegaly, hepatosplenomegaly, and deviated septum were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew these issues.,Tinnitus was granted service connection based on in-service noise exposure and current symptomatology.,An acquired psychiatric disability (depression) was granted service connection due to in-service experiences and post-deployment health re-assessment reports.,Allergic rhinitis was granted service connection based on in-service symptoms and current diagnosis.,Hypertension was granted service connection as it began during active duty, with evidence of elevated blood pressure readings.,Varicocele was granted service connection due to a left varicocele noted at separation and subsequent CT scan showing the condition.,A skin disability (eczema and cellulitis) was granted service connection based on in-service rashes and current diagnosis.,Gastrointestinal disability (hiatal hernia and diverticulosis) was granted service connection due to symptoms beginning during active duty.