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

An initial 10 percent rating for hypertension prior to October 21, 2019 is granted.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for hypertension from October 21, 2019 is denied. The Veteran's PFB claim has been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for eligibility for the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his current level of impairment with regard to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of PTSD was denied, as the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.,The Veteran's appeal for TDIU was also denied, as his service-connected disabilities alone did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, right eye diabetic retinopathy, prostatitis with urethritis, bilateral hearing loss, tinea pedis with diabetic dermopathy, and tinea cruris has been granted. Effective dates have not yet been determined for these conditions.

The Board denied a rating higher than 30 percent for the Veteran's skin disorder, tinea pedis and tinea unguium. The condition affects less than 5% of the entire body or exposed areas, and does not require constant or near-constant systemic therapy.

The Board denied service connection for psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis of the right hand, and psoriatic arthritis of the left hand. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's GERD symptoms have met the criteria for a 60 percent disability rating. The issue of an initial compensable disability evaluation for his ingrown toenail and foot condition is remanded due to lack of medical opinion regarding systemic effects of topical treatments.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for acne rosacea, specifically his in-service exposure to nuclear atmospheric radiation. The VA examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion on whether sun exposure during service may be causally connected to the Veteran's acne rosacea.

The Veteran's autoimmune symptoms are fully encompassed by her service-connected allergic dermatitis, and a separate claim for an autoimmune disease is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded for additional examinations. The skin condition claim is related to in-service exposure, while the ankle disability claim requires further evidence regarding its onset.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder is dismissed. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence that would support the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his claimed disabilities, finding that he was not exposed to herbicides during service and thus could not establish presumptive service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to consider whether the Veteran's use of non-prescription, steroid-free anti-itch lotions is 'like' corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs. The VA needs to obtain an opinion on this issue.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of depressive disorder with mixed features as there is no longer a case or controversy to resolve due to its grant in December 2019. The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection for knee, ankle, and lower extremity disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for his tinea pedis is being remanded due to the failure to appear for a scheduled VA examination. The Board acknowledges that the Veteran provided a lay statement indicating he had good cause for not attending the examination and finds this sufficient to grant the claim as a matter of law.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable disability ratings for dry eye syndrome and dermatitis have been withdrawn.,His claim for service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease has been reopened, but the issue remains remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability has been denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss that meets VA criteria.,Service connection for sleep deprivation was also denied due to lack of a diagnosed condition and functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial disability rating greater than 10 percent for lumbosacral strain and service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae due to insufficient evidence. Additional examinations are needed.

The Veteran's atopic dermatitis is currently rated as 60 percent disabling, the highest rating available under DC 7806. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of evidence showing scars or disfigurement of the head, face, or neck, and no evidence of erythroderma.