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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents. The issues include heart disability, prostate condition, skin conditions, and COPD.

The Veteran's tinea cruris is being remanded for further evaluation and assessment due to the lack of a comprehensive examination that addresses all affected areas, including groin, legs, toes, and feet. Additional treatment records are also needed.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's psoriasis and dermatitis, finding that these conditions are related to his active service in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU prior to October 29, 2018 is denied. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating than currently assigned under the applicable criteria. For the period from October 29, 2018 onwards, the Veteran has been in receipt of the highest schedular disability rating for his service-connected skin condition.

The Veteran's Parkinson’s Disease, postsurgical aortocoronary bypass, type II diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease secondary to type II diabetes mellitus, and skin disorder (chloracne) are all granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded as the evidence does not conclusively establish its relationship with Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing neurodermatitis was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected lichen planus of lips, eczematous dermatitis and tinea pedis/tinea cruris disability was granted a 30 percent rating effective March 1, 2019. The Veteran also received a 10 percent rating for otitis media with secondary hearing loss effective August 28, 2019.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete documentation and instructions need to be provided by the AOJ.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear otitis media/externa and right ear otitis media/externa have been reopened, but the claims for constipation, a right eye disability, and a heart disability remain denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbe has been reopened, but remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected tinea versicolor has been rated at 30 percent since October 15, 2018. The Board found that the condition affected between 20 to 40 percent of his entire body during flare-ups and granted a higher rating.

The Veteran's initial rating for dermatitis with scarring is being remanded due to an indication that his condition may have increased in severity.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and PTSD, is denied as there is no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor.,The Veteran's skin disability (tinea versicolor) is denied because the current condition does not have its onset during service.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, as well as his skin disorder, are being remanded for further evaluation.,Service connection claims for a right shoulder disability and bilateral hearing loss are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and ratings have been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied because his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted his claim for TDIU from July 16, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for acne keloidalis with head scar and bumps was granted, but the specific issue of service connection for growth bumps is not addressed in this decision.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability determination records. A podiatry examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's bilateral calluses are related to his service-connected tinea pedis, and a skin disorders examination may be necessary to assess the severity of his tinea pedis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. However, his claim for dermatitis/eczema has been remanded.,His PTSD rating remains at 50 percent, with a recommendation for further examination to determine its impact on employment.