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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for eczema is granted, and the case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, was granted. The issue of secondary service connection for a skin disability is being remanded.,The Veteran contends that his current skin condition had its onset in service and is aggravated by his service-connected depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating and effective date for various skin conditions, including scalp folliculitis with keloid formation, all scars from head to toe, all linear scars from head to toe, and scars of the anterior trunk region following cholecystectomy.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for hearing loss and pseudofolliculitis barbae, hair loss, or keloids.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the Veteran's atopic eczema prior to November 30, 2018, finding that her condition required constant or near-constant systemic therapy including Hydroxyzine.

The Veteran's postoperative hemorrhoidectomy, pilonidal cyst, and bilateral tinea cruris were denied compensable disability ratings.,Specifically, the Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including those related to service connection and effective dates.

The Board has determined that a remand is required in order to fully adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin disorders and an initial compensable rating for left hand scar residuals of a shrapnel wound. The Veteran needs further examination and opinion regarding his claimed conditions, particularly related to exposure during service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and service connection for chloracne and a sleep disorder were denied. The decision also found that the Veteran does not meet criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent since September 29, 2002. The Board found that the evidence did not show diastolic pressures predominantly 110 or more or systolic pressures predominantly 200 or more.,The Veteran's PFB was rated at 10 percent since September 29, 2002. The Board found that less than 5% of exposed areas were affected by the condition and no systemic therapy for PFB was required.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for a burn scar of the nose is dismissed. The claim for service connection for a skin disability has been reopened, and it is granted due to equipoise in determining whether his current skin disabilities had their onset during service.

The Board has reopened the claims for hepatitis C and eczema, but both issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected tinea corporis with ecthyma of fingers and intradermal to face was reduced from a 30 percent rating to noncompensable in March 2019. The Board has restored the 30 percent rating effective June 1, 1970.

The Board denied a separate compensable disability rating for ingrown right first toenail status post nail removal, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support such a rating.

The Veteran's skin disability, including tinea pedis and other dermatological conditions, is found to have started during his active service in Korea. The Board granted service connection for these disabilities based on the combat presumption.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including low back strain with degenerative joint disease. The TDIU will be granted but without an effective date.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder and service, including a history of depression and excessive worry noted in 1988.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's eczema from August 10, 2009 to February 9, 2010. The VA needs to obtain an addendum medical opinion addressing the use of medications and their systemic impact.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae, diabetes, hypertension, and tinea corporis was granted. The claim for service connection for diabetes is remanded.,Service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, hypertension with cerebral vascular residuals, and tinea corporis has been established.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral tinea pedis was granted a disability rating of 60 percent, effective from August 18, 2020. The condition required constant or near-constant systemic therapy during the past 12-month period.