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

The Veteran is granted an annual VA clothing allowance for the year 2015 due to use of a skin medication (triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% ointment) prescribed for her service-connected eczema.

The Veteran's application for a clothing allowance due to irritable bowel syndrome was denied because hydrocortisone and pramoxine topical ointment do not cause irreparable damage to his outer garments, as determined by the VA.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in rating for allergic rhinitis, disfigurement of the neck, alopecia areata, or skin disability other than alopecia areata prior to September 1, 2009. A compensable rating was granted for skin disability other than alopecia areata from September 1, 2009.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his service connection claims for bilateral pes planus, lower back condition, pseudofolliculitis barbae, right shoulder condition, diabetes mellitus, left shoulder condition, left-hand degenerative joint disease (DJD), hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The appeals are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sarcoidosis, cervical spine disorder, and various other conditions have been reopened. The Board finds that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and folliculitis keloidalis nuchae were granted. The claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his skin conditions due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran will need new VA examinations to determine the current severity of his dry skin rash, as well as the etiology of any diagnosed skin disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of right foot disability, heart palpitations (vascular signs), hypertension, and eczema are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board finds the VA examination inadequate and requires additional development including obtaining relevant medical records.

The veteran's nonservice-connected pension benefits are denied, and the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for eczema is remanded.

The Veteran's chronic acne vulgaris was rated at 50 percent disabling, which is the maximum benefit sought under the schedular criteria. The Board found that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's request to reopen service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae was granted. Effective March 1, 2012.,Claims for effective dates earlier than March 1, 2012 for left ankle sprain and status post right inguinal hernia repair with residual scar were denied as there was no CUE in the prior decisions.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for a left eye scar remains pending.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia, tension headaches, and tinea versicolor have been rated based on their service-connected status. The Board has found that further examinations are needed to assess the current severity of these conditions and their impact on employment.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions alone did not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment prior to September 11, 2012.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,Service connection is not granted for a bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, right shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder as aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected dyshidrotic eczema. The issues of entitlement to an increased disability rating for dyshidrotic eczema, entitlement to a TDIU and entitlement to nonservice-connected pension are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence prior to the dates specified in the decision that could be construed as a claim of service connection.,Right knee disability rating was remanded due to lack of examination addressing direct and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating as he does not require insulin or regulation of activities.,The Veteran has erectile dysfunction secondary to his diabetes mellitus. However, there is no deformity of the penis.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a heart disability was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. His hypertension claim, however, was granted as new and material evidence has been received.,The Veteran's PFB, sleep apnea, and TDIU claims are remanded as the Board finds that VA examinations are needed to determine their etiology.

Service connection for hyperlipidemia, headaches, hyperthyroidism, depression, Peyronie's disease, colon polyps, West Nile virus, tinea, GERD, intestinal disorder (to include IBS and chronic diarrhea), back condition, hypothyroidism, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction is denied.,Service connection for PTSD was awarded on February 13, 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim.