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

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, specifically eczema of the hands, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to this condition and that any current eczema did not have onset during service. The Board also found that the Veteran’s recent report of having had a hand rash shortly before discharge from service was not credible due to its inconsistency with other contemporaneous lay and medical evidence.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, dermatophytosis/tinea pedis/onychomycosis, and right eye cataract were granted effective November 28, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected tinea pedis is remanded due to the lack of a recent examination reflecting current symptomatology.

The Veteran's bilateral tinea pedis and tinea unguium resulted in symptoms including pain, cracked skin, and peeling. The condition involved less than five percent of the Veteran’s entire body and none of the exposed areas, requiring only topical therapy.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae and lumbar spine condition due to incomplete examination reports. The Veteran's history of Kenalog injection treatments and scarring associated with PFB need to be discussed, as well as the Veteran’s testimony regarding his low-back conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to his service-connected depression. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a VA opinion that addresses whether the Veteran’s sleep apnea was incurred in or caused by her active duty service and if it is related to her service-connected depression.,The Board has also remanded the issue of assigning a compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected eczema prior to November 30, 2017. The AOJ must obtain VA opinions regarding whether the Veteran’s topical treatments constituted systematic therapy and if her sleep apnea is related to her service-connected depression.

The Board has reopened several service connection claims due to new and material evidence. The hearing loss and tinnitus cases are remanded for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for psoriasis of the feet and hands, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to active duty service or herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's claim was also denied for a higher rating for peripheral arterial disease of both lower extremities.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,The claim of service connection for psoriasis with psoriatic arthritis remains pending as it was remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim of a 30 percent rating for tinea pedis, cruris, corporis (skin disability) from May 5, 2011 to September 12, 2012 was granted. The appeal for a higher rating is denied. Service connection claims for lumbar spine and hip disabilities are remanded.

The Board dismissed the issues of an increased rating for a lumbar disability and service connection for left ulnar neuropathy, as well as the claims for migraine headaches, gastrointestinal disorder, tinnitus, eczema, and reduction of knee ratings. The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn by his representative.

The Veteran's PFB and stomach disability are being remanded for further evaluation due to the complexity of his symptoms and their impact on daily life.

The Veteran's tinea pedis with onychomycosis was initially rated at 10 percent prior to November 5, 2007. From November 5, 2007, to May 21, 2010, the Veteran is entitled to a 60 percent rating for his condition. The Board has remanded these issues due to insufficient development.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for acne keloidalis of the scalp and nape of neck is remanded due to uncertainty about whether his topical medication constitutes systemic therapy.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for numbness and tingling of the right foot, numbness and tingling of the left foot, and a skin disability (including dermatitis, eczema, jungle rot), all related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The skin disability claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking his current skin conditions to his active duty service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and increased ratings were denied as there was no factually ascertainable increase in disability during the year prior to April 26, 2011. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to his right knee instability.

The Board has not properly addressed the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability affecting the scalp, as it did not comply with previous remand directives regarding the need to provide an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's folliculitis and whether it is related to service or exposure to Agent Orange. The case is being remanded for further development.

Service connection is granted for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and low back disability. The low back disability case is remanded.