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

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for arthritis of the back and shoulder, hypertension secondary to PTSD, and a skin condition. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition is denied.,There is no effective date prior to January 3, 2011 for the award of service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's skin disability, specifically dyshidrotic eczema. The Veteran must be provided another VA examination to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions cause or aggravate his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for left ear scar and cystic acne of the face and head prior to February 3, 2013 are also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his depressive disorder and eye disability, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the percentage of body surface area affected by the service-connected skin disability prior to September 10, 2013.

The Board has restored the Veteran's rating for recurring right great toe ingrown toenail, fungal infection (onychomycosis) of the feet, xerosis, scalp, and pseudofolliculitis barbae to 30 percent effective October 1, 2019. The reduction in rating was improper due to failure to comply with applicable regulations.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on visible or palpable tissue loss and characteristics of disfigurement.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his service-connected onychomycosis and tinea pedis, including whether topical treatments can be considered systemic therapy.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and needs further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for PFB and scars from lacerations are remanded due to outdated VA examinations, and the need for a new examination. The issue of an earlier effective date for the scar disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's skin disability (tinea versicolor) has been rated at 10 percent since August 25, 2010. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any portion of this period.

The Veteran's basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits was not established prior to March 2, 2020, as he did not have a permanent and total service-connected disability at that time.

The Board denied service connection for dermatitis, melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma as these conditions were not shown to be related to service or due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied the claim for a TDIU rating, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment during the period at issue.

The Board has directed the readjudication of the Veteran's TDIU claim for the entire period on appeal, including from September 24, 2010. The RO is instructed to consider all relevant evidence and determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for constipation and circulatory issues were denied as there was no current diagnosis of these conditions.,Her claim for PTSD (with major depressive disorder) was granted with a rating of 70 percent effective February 20, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating, and TDIU as a result of his service-connected disabilities due to lack of evidence or availability.

The Board has remanded the claims for postoperative hemorrhoidectomy, pilonidal cyst, and bilateral tinea cruris due to outstanding treatment records not yet obtained.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, upper gastrointestinal disability (claimed as stomach condition), and lower gastrointestinal disability (claimed as intestine condition) due to lack of evidence showing in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lower back strain, right and left knee strains, right and left lower extremity radiculopathies, tinea pedis of the fourth and fifth toes on the left foot, and a verruca on the right forearm have been denied. The current 40 percent rating for the combined conditions is maintained.