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

The Veteran's GERD and DFVD were denied service connection due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The skin disorders are being remanded for further evaluation.,Service connection is not granted for the Veteran's DFVD or skin disorders as there is no direct link to his military service, and the claims have been remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure.,The initial rating for tinea versicolor remains at 10 percent, despite the Veteran's contention that it warrants a higher rating.

The Veteran's hidradenitis suppurativa with rosacea was granted an initial rating of 60 percent, effective December 19, 2012. The Veteran's son, D.C., is recognized as a dependent child due to his permanent incapacity for self-support prior to reaching the age of 18.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient development of his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to December 27, 2018. The VA needs to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employment from July 2006 to December 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial compensable rating for acne keloidalis, an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder, service connection for hypertension, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to inadequate examinations and missing records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, sleep apnea, and sensorineural hearing loss. The Board also denied his requests for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity disability.

The Board denied service connection for a left foot disability, left ankle arthritis, thick, painful toenails and hammer toes, and tinea unguium (onychomycosis) of the left great toenail. The Veteran's current conditions were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's skin disabilities, including dyshidrotic eczema and tinea versicolor, are currently rated at 10% since November 8, 2018. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a left knee disability and is granting a higher rating of 60% for his skin disabilities effective from November 8, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder, other than tinea pedis, tinea manum, and poikiloderma of civatte, to include as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation, chemical exposure, or sun exposure due to lack of evidence linking the condition to active military service.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor did not affect an area of at least 5 percent of the entire body or 5 percent of the exposed area and did not require systemic therapy during the past 12-month period. Therefore, he is not entitled to a compensable rating for his tinea versicolor.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for cystic acne of the face and head prior to February 3, 2013 is granted.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for OSA and left ear scar are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination opinions regarding the Veteran's newly diagnosed skin conditions and their relationship to his service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of prostate cancer, obstructive sleep apnea, and eczema due to the Veteran's withdrawal before a decision was made.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various conditions due to potential changes in the Veteran's character of discharge from his period of service. The appeal is not about a presumption, exposure basis, or new and material evidence.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits were initially denied due to his service-connected disabilities not resulting in an employment handicap. However, since the initial decision, he has been granted additional service connection for several conditions and there is evidence suggesting he may have an employment handicap now. The Board finds a remand necessary to conduct a functional capacity evaluation (FCE) to determine if he currently suffers from an employment handicap.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for chronic dermatitis with tinea pedis and undiagnosed condition prior to March 15, 2021 is denied as the evidence does not show that his skin condition affected more than 40 percent of his entire body or exposed areas, nor did it require constant systemic therapy.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total rating based on individual unemployability have been remanded due to the need for additional development. The current 10 percent ratings for right and left hallux valgus with hammer toe, as well as tinea unguium, are upheld.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae and a right shoulder disorder due to additional development being warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin condition and bilateral foot disability due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.