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

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for cervical spine disorder, UTIs, and ear disorders. The Veteran's claims are based on direct evidence of injury during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, granting his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's respiratory disability characterized as asthma and reactive airway disease is granted. The issues of service connection for chronic fatigue, skin conditions to include dermatitis and psoriasis, and headaches are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various hip, knee, shoulder, and spine conditions are being remanded due to the failure of VA to schedule examinations as instructed in a previous Board decision.

The Veteran's headaches, IBS, and acne are all found to be due to exposure in the Persian Gulf War. The left foot skin condition is also presumed to have been incurred during service.,Service connection has been granted for headaches, IBS, and acne as due to PGWS. Service connection for a left foot skin condition is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l). The Board finds the preponderance of the evidence supports this finding.

The Veteran's dermatitis eczema, onychomycosis, and chloracne have been granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since September 17, 2018. The Board has granted TDIU from that date.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand directives regarding the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for psoriatic scalp dermatitis and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The Veteran was provided a VA examination, but the opinion did not address whether he takes systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs for his diagnosed conditions, which is necessary to determine if he qualifies for higher ratings under the new criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the appellant's skin disorder, psychiatric disorder, low back disorder, bilateral foot disorder, wrist fracture residuals, and traumatic arthritis. The VA is required to obtain new medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition, finding that his current diagnoses are not related to his military service or any incident therein, including herbicide exposure. The Board noted that there is no evidence of in-service onset and that subsequent manifestations of the same chronic disease did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder, headaches, and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment since January 1, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's right thumb sprain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board found no evidence to warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's tinea cruris has not required intermittent systemic therapy or affected more than five percent of his body. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriasis vulgaris and rosacea, finding that there was no evidence of chloracne or other acneform disease consistent with chloracne during service. The current skin disorders are not presumed to be due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 25, 2015 for a 60 percent rating for eczematous dermatitis of the upper arms, shoulders, back, chest, and abdomen is remanded due to his contention that there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in prior rating decisions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and initial compensable rating for a skin disability, diagnosed as cystic acne, chloracne, hidradenitis suppurativa, and extensive scarring, is being remanded due to procedural issues and the need to review the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for psoriasis, arthritis (including arthritis of the hand, fingers, and right shoulder), and a back disability due to additional evidence being associated with his case.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are found to be related to service. The skin condition is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's respiratory disability claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis.,A 60 percent initial disability rating for dermatitis is granted, effective July 1, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking ischemic heart disease to his active duty service or presumed exposure to herbicides. The Board also found that other conditions listed did not contribute to his death.