Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2020

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability (other than osteoporosis), joint and muscle pain, and skin disability to include alopecia and dermatitis. The Veteran's back disability is not considered proximately due to or aggravated by his previously service-connected sickle cell anemia.,Joint and muscle pain is considered a symptom of the Veteran’s previously service-connected sickle cell anemia.

Service connection for onychomycosis and eczema is granted.,Service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, osteoarthritis of the right index finger, and tinea pedis with onychomycosis have been granted. The claim for pseudofolliculitis barbae was denied.,Service connection has been established for these conditions based on direct evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for Fuchs' corneal dystrophy has been denied.,Service connection for left knee disability is denied, as there is no evidence of chronic left knee arthritis within the applicable presumptive period and continuity of symptomatology is not established.,Service connection for seborrheic dermatitis is remanded due to a resurgence of symptoms including hair loss.,Service connection for hair loss is also remanded.

The Board dismissed all appeals for service connection and increased ratings due to the appellant's death.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea versicolor, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the condition had its initial onset during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinea pedis of the bilateral feet and a right shoulder disability, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions were incurred during active military service. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not rated higher than noncompensable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis as his combined schedular rating is less than total and he has not demonstrated that his service-connected conditions alone are severe enough to warrant TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for type II diabetes mellitus and chloracne due to incomplete VA examinations, conflicting mailing addresses, and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran will need to provide his current address and undergo new VA examinations.

The Board has found that remand is warranted for an examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and associated complications, including onychomycosis and stasis dermatitis. The earlier effective date claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is also remanded due to a need to address the Veteran's allegation regarding clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the assignment of an effective date of September 13, 2007.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection due to insufficient evidence in some areas.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and is granted as service connection.,There is no current diagnosis of hypertension, thus denial of service connection for hypertension.,The Veteran has a qualifying chronic gastrointestinal disability manifested by constipation that began during service and is granted as service connection.,Service connection is denied for right rear leg condition, left rear leg condition, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle condition, and left ankle condition due to lack of evidence supporting the onset or relationship to service.,PFB is granted as service connection based on credible lay statements and medical history.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The VA examiner did not consider all of the Veteran's claims, including his statements about blistering and cherry angiomas.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, including glaucoma, cholecystectomy residuals, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, erectile dysfunction, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right hand dermatitis, anemia, inguinal hernia repair, and hemorrhoids. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy, increased ratings for lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination and supplemental opinion from a dermatologist to determine if any diagnosed skin disabilities are related to service, including claimed exposure to chemicals.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the Veteran's functional impairment from his service-connected disabilities and determine if he is unemployable due to these conditions. The examiner must consider all of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, except for left knee degenerative arthritis, during the period from May 15, 2018 to July 1, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development related to his skin disability and scar of the right foot.,His claim for a compensable rating for ankylosis, fibrous, partial of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the second toe, right foot, and his claim for service connection for a skin disability (to include fungal infection/tinea corporis) are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acne or chloracne and hypothyroidism were denied as there was no evidence of a direct relationship to his military service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The Board found that the Veteran did not have continuous symptoms since service.

Service connection granted for hearing loss as secondary to hepatitis C. A 100% rating is granted from July 1, 2010, to July 1, 2019, for CFS. Prior to and after this period, a rating in excess of 60% is denied.