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

The Veteran's appeals for right ear hearing loss, allergies, viral syndrome, chloracne, bilateral knee disability, PFB, lumbar spine disability, and left hip disability have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder arthropathy. The skin condition claim is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The application to reopen the claim of service connection for back disability was denied, and the Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the percentage requirements.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for seborrheic dermatitis prior to April 12, 2016 and in excess of 30 percent from April 12, 2016 to November 29, 2019, and in excess of 60 percent from November 29, 2019. The appellant's seborrheic dermatitis was rated under the General Rating Formula for the Skin.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is granted a 10% rating, but no greater. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral flat feet, plantar fasciitis, and foot discoloration.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for PFB was denied, and his claim for a higher rating after August 6, 2019, was also denied.,The Board found that the evidence did not support an initial compensable rating prior to August 6, 2019, or any rating higher than 10 percent from that date.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity can be adjudicated.,The Veteran's hypertension may not have been related to his exposure to herbicide agents, as no VA examiner has provided an opinion on this issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to issues related to his participation in Project SHAD, including exposure to bacillus globigii (BG), betapropiolactone (BPL), and zinc cadmium sulfide. The claims include lung disability, kidney cysts, skin disability, cervical spine disability, low back disability, gastrointestinal disability, and headaches.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is denied as his skin disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under either the old or new VA Rating Schedule.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the extent of service-connected PFB and whether any keloid scarring is related to this condition.

The Board denied service connection for chloracne, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy all claimed as due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's retroactive CRSC payments are remanded due to a lack of information regarding any payments and withholdings made by VA prior to April 1, 2018.

The Veteran's skin disability, including tinea pedis, tinea cruris, and tinea unguium, involves less than 5 percent of exposed areas and entire body affected with no more than topical treatment required over the past 12-month period. The Board denied a compensable rating for his service-connected chronic dermatitis.

The Veteran's tinea pedis of the bilateral foot is granted. The right and left knee disabilities are remanded for further development.

The appeal to establish service connection for anemia is dismissed. The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, PTSD, and unspecified anxiety disorder are granted. Service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae and unspecified anxiety disorder are granted; however, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. His CAD has also been granted based on herbicide exposure in Korea.,Service connection for his back disability, right lower extremity sciatica, skin disabilities (porphyria cutanea tarda and eczema), hemochromatosis, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and TDIU has been granted. However, these claims are remanded due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for various service-connected disabilities, including eczematoid dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right patellofemoral pain syndrome with shin splints and anterior compartment syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with shin splints and anterior compartment syndrome, left hip disability, diabetes mellitus type II, hypogonadism, esophageal stricture with esophageal polyp and Schatzki's ring, and ventral hernia status post-surgery with rectus diastasis.

The Veteran's initial rating for GERD has been granted at a 10 percent level, but the issue of an initial compensable rating for bilateral hand dermatitis, bilateral feet tinea pedis and right first toe paronychia is remanded due to incomplete VA medical records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his left knee condition was denied as the evidence did not show limitation of motion that would warrant a higher evaluation.,The Veteran's skin conditions were found to be less likely related to service or an undiagnosed illness, and thus denial of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for scalp folliculitis.