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

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for dermatitis and TDIU prior to November 20, 2019 are both remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on his symptoms.,For service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, additional development is needed as remanded by the Board.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as persistent stressor disorder and other specified stressor disorder, is related to service. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the VA needs to assess the collective impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating of PFB and service connection for NHL is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected skin condition and other disabilities. The main issues include reopening of previously denied claims for various conditions, including respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, fatigue, digestive, genitourinary, and joint/muscle conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for psoriasis and a spine disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The claim for left ear hearing loss is also remanded.

The Board has determined that additional evidence must be reviewed by the AOJ before a final decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disorder, squamous and basal cell skin cancer, chloracne, and prostate disability. The AOJ is instructed to review all new evidence added since the July 2020 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unemployable, and thus denied her claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted a 10% rating for the Veteran's skin disability since October 13, 2017. Prior to that date, the Veteran was not entitled to any compensation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bronchitis has been dismissed. The Veteran was granted an initial 30 percent rating for hypothyroid endocrine dysfunction and a 10 percent rating for cholecystectomy. The cases of atopic dermatitis and rheumatoid arthritis are being remanded.

The Veteran's skin disorder (tinea pedis, tinea cruris, tinea corporis, onychomycosis) is remanded for further development due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding systemic therapy use.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disability, hypertension, and folliculitis. The cervical spine disability was not incurred in or related to service. Hypertension is not shown to be caused by service-connected conditions.,Folliculitis was not shown to have been present during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,For kidney disease, skin disability, rhinitis, and acute pharyngitis, service connection has been remanded as there are insufficient opinions provided regarding their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for tinea on the back, acne vulgaris, a respiratory disability (COPD), sinusitis, and vertigo as there is no current evidence of these conditions during or close to the appeal period.,Service records show treatment for various respiratory issues in service but no diagnosis of COPD. The Veteran's current COPD is attributed to tobacco use.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for chloracne (also claimed as acne) is denied. The maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 7828 and 7829 has been awarded, which requires deep acne affecting 40% or more of the face and neck.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his right thumb arthritis and right wrist disability, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since February 6, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that there was no evidence showing he could not secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to February 11, 2004.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and urinary incontinence, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined rating of his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU) as there is no evidence that the Veteran filed a formal or informal claim for TDIU benefits prior to September 17, 2012.