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

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's skin disorders, specifically his claimed exposure to sun and herbicides during service.

The Veteran's PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and other conditions were denied. The case was remanded for further development on several issues.

The Veteran's right and left knee disorders have been rated as 10 percent disabling each under Diagnostic Code 5257, but the appeal is denied due to lack of additional functional loss or instability.,The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome has been rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 5260 and her right knee strain has also been rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 5261. The appeal is denied due to lack of additional functional loss or instability.,The Veteran's left leg varicose veins have been rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 7120, but the appeal is denied due to lack of additional functional loss or instability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of increased disability evaluations and service connection. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to evaluate his shoulder and back disabilities, as well as a PTSD examination and an evaluation of his claimed tremors.

The appeal for a compensable disability rating for service-connected internal or external hemorrhoids, status post cryosurgery is dismissed. The appeals for PTSD and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss are remanded. The appeal for an acne condition is also remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his back disability and foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to failure of the Veteran to report for scheduled VA examinations. The matter is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected atopic dermatitis was denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support an increase in the rating beyond 30 percent.

The Veteran's acne vulgaris with moderate scarring and slight disfigurement of the face is rated at a 60 percent rating since December 2, 2008.

The Board has granted a 20% rating for the Veteran's right ankle disability and a 10% rating for his skin condition, effective April 1, 2020. The ratings are based on the severity of the disabilities as determined by medical evidence.

The Veteran's tinea pedis and sarcoidosis have not been found to meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran’s acquired psychiatric disorder and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are being remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for PFB was denied, and his rating in excess of 10 percent from April 16, 2019 was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on percentage of body or exposed area affected or systemic therapy.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received after a previous supplemental statement of the case. The Veteran needs additional VA treatment records and an updated VA examination for skin and scars.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder was granted. The claims for tinea pedis, respiratory disability (including chronic bronchitis, COPD, and other respiratory pathology related to pulmonary eosinophilic granulomatosis and obstructive sleep apnea), foot disability other than tinea pedis, upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, and right knee disability are still pending and need further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, left hand and finger disability, lumbar degenerative disc disease and arthritis, medial synovitis and medial plica syndrome of the left knee, anterior pain syndrome of the right knee, other stressor and trauma related disorder, psoriasis and dermatitis, obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), diarrhea, and lung condition. The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for ankylosing spondylitis is granted, and he receives a 60 percent rating for his eczema. The episcleritis claim remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and psoriasis, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that both conditions are related to service. Service connection was established based on secondary service connection due to a pre-existing condition (PTSD) aggravating another condition (psoriasis).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain has been rated at 40 percent since August 18, 2009.,The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective November 1, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to March 6, 2015 for special monthly compensation based on Aid And Attendance (A&A) because the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities required regular aid and attendance before May 6, 2015.