Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and chloracne due to in-service Agent Orange exposure. The claims are being remanded for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's psoriasis has required constant or near-constant systemic therapy with Remicade, a biologic immunosuppressant drug. The Board granted the maximum 60 percent rating for this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and psoriasis. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C infection was granted. The case for service connection for eczema is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for eczema from August 10, 2009, to February 9, 2010, is denied as the condition is already rated at the highest possible level under both old and new VA regulations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, plaque psoriasis, hypogonadism with low testosterone, psoriatic joint pain, hypertension, sciatic nerve pain, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The AOJ should consider all evidence of record in this supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's skin disorders, including tinea pedis and chloracne, were not incurred in service or within one year of service and are not otherwise etiologically related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty/active duty for training military service.,Flat feet, a skin disorder, and severe trench foot (both feet) remain in dispute and require further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to the need for new medical opinions regarding her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension and a skin disorder are being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The appeal for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is dismissed. The appeals for secondary service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a failure to obtain relevant outstanding treatment records, and will need to request these records before making a final decision.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder, finding no probative medical evidence linking the current diagnoses to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and an autoimmune disorder were granted with effective date of April 30, 2010. The rating assigned was 100%.

The Veteran's dermatophytosis tinea corporis did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as it affected less than 5% of the entire body or exposed areas.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of a compression fracture of the thoracic spine with IVDS and arthritis was denied. Service connection was granted for an adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, but denied for other conditions including left hip, ankle, foot, and dermatitis disorders.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service hazardous noise exposure.,The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae remains under consideration for a higher rating. The VA has been instructed to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether topical corticosteroid medications used to treat his skin condition constitute systemic therapy.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various skin conditions, nerve paralysis, hearing loss, and other disabilities were denied. The claim for a chronic skin disorder including chloracne was also denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of psoriasis, finding that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim. The Board also found that the Veteran's psoriasis manifested during his period of active duty, continued since separation from service, and is more likely than not caused by his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current tinnitus was incurred in service, and thus, assigned him the benefit of the doubt.,For his hemorrhoids, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), bilateral hearing loss, degenerative joint disease of the left ankle, and residuals of right ankle injury claims, a new VA examination is required to determine their etiology.