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

The appeal with respect to the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions is dismissed.

The Veteran's acne and dermatitis of the face, chest, shoulders, and upper back were rated at a 10% from June 7, 2018 to November 20, 2018. From November 20, 2018 onwards, he is not entitled to any compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC at the housebound rate due to a lack of factual housebound status and inability to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment based on his service-connected disabilities, specifically pseudofolliculitis and depression.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and he is granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and headaches. The claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II remains pending as it was remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a liver condition has been reopened, and he is now entitled to a rating of 10 percent for his gallbladder removal. His pseudofolliculitis barbae is rated as noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, eczema, and hypertension have been granted. The claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on housebound status was denied because he did not meet the statutory requirements for payment of SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under Section 1151 is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding causation of his psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, which he contends are related to a blood transfusion during the 1989 VA surgery. Additional development including obtaining informed consent forms and reviewing relevant treatment records is needed.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating of PFB with scarring from May 23, 2012 to May 17, 2018 was granted. The issue remains on appeal as the RO declined reopening his claims for service connection for hypertension and bilateral knee condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. Specifically, he seeks service connection for left knee disorder, sinusitis, hypertension, prostate disorder, and pseudofolliculitis barbae as related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, finding that there is no causal relationship between his current dermatitis and his in-service treatment. The evidence does not support reopening of the claim as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with prior Board directives and need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral plantar fasciitis with calcaneal spurs, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, diverticulitis, left ankle achilles tendonitis, and bilateral feet tinea pedis.

The Veteran's PFB and folliculitis were granted a 60 percent rating effective September 14, 2021. The decision found that the Veteran's symptoms more closely approximated characteristic lesions involving more than 40 percent of his entire body or exposed areas.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back and left knee conditions, have worsened to the point where he requires constant use of an ambulatory device for walking. The Board finds a remand necessary to assess the severity of these conditions and their impact on daily activities.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected acne is remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records.,The issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to June 24, 2020, is also remanded as it may be impacted by the grant of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service. The claims for service connection will be remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA examination and medical opinion to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current skin disorders, including her palmar rash. The examiner will consider all diagnoses present during the appeal period since 1997 and assess whether each condition is at least as likely as not related to service or in-service chemical exposure.