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

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore denied service connection. The pseudofolliculitis barbae claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his period of active service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The case must be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's eczema is rated at a 10 percent rating effective March 20, 2015. A compensable rating prior to this date is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted for special monthly compensation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and records to determine the current severity of his GERD, PTSD with Primary Insomnia, and other conditions.

The Veteran's initial rating for dermatitis is denied as he is already receiving the maximum schedular rating. A separate 10 percent rating for pustular rash is granted effective August 28, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for right knee disorder, sleep apnea, ovarian cyst, dermatitis/skin disorder of the face, and bone growth in mouth as there was no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's petitions to reopen the claims of service connection for a vision disorder, body rash, and back disorder have been dismissed. The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for left hand disorder has been granted.,The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for left knee disorder has been granted. The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for left foot disorder has been granted. The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss has been granted. The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for PFB has been granted.,The Veteran's petitions to reopen the claims of service connection for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction have been remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arterial hypertension, tinea (skin condition), and mild venous valvular insufficiency. The decision on arterial hypertension is based on lack of a nexus to service or service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. Tinea was not shown to be related to service. Service connection for venous valvular insufficiency has been remanded due to insufficient opinion regarding aggravation by service-connected diabetes.,The Veteran's claims for tinea and mild venous valvular insufficiency have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and service or service-connected conditions. The claim for arterial hypertension remains pending, with the Board finding that it was not incurred in service or related to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral tinea pedis, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on the current severity of the condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, as the VA medical opinions indicate he can maintain employment with some accommodations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's eczema clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service, and if so, whether it was aggravated during service. The examiner is asked to provide opinions on these points.

The Veteran's skin disability and PTSD are being remanded for further development. The skin disability is rated as 10 percent, with a separate rating of 10 percent for painful scars. The PTSD claim has been denied due to lack of evidence meeting the criteria for a 50 percent rating prior to January 8, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinea pedis, headaches, and asthma. Service connection was denied for a right knee disability.,For PTSD, the Veteran's initial rating in excess of 30 percent prior to November 17, 2014, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for shoulder disorder, keloid scarring, and unspecified depressive disorder with insomnia due to potential service connection issues. The AOJ must provide a new examination and consider all relevant evidence before making a decision.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor affects his face, covering less than 20% of the exposed area. The claim for a higher rating is denied as the current evaluation of 10% is appropriate.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a respiratory disorder and for a compensable initial evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae due to lack of cooperation in VA examinations. The Veteran is required to report for any scheduled examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's skin condition is related to service and remands for further clarification on the nature of his pre-existing conditions.

The appeal regarding service connection for a left shoulder disability is dismissed.,TDIU for the period prior to July 2, 2012 is granted. SMC based on statutory housebound status under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) for the period beginning September 15, 2014, and no earlier, is granted.,The issue of TDIU for the period prior to July 2, 2012 is remanded.