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

The claims for left wrist ganglion cyst and skin condition (claimed as acne) have been denied because the evidence does not establish a connection to service.,Tinnitus was granted, with no indication of noise exposure during service. The appellant's testimony regarding tinnitus is considered less credible due to its remote onset in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin condition other than right leg folliculitis and an initial increased rating for left knee patellofemoral syndrome. The claim for service connection was denied due to lack of evidence linking any current skin condition to service, while the claim for increased rating for left knee patellofemoral syndrome was granted with a 10 percent disability rating effective October 16, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of COPD, lumbosacral strain with DJD, hypertension, and tinea pedis have been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to May 4, 2008.

The appeal of the claim for service connection for a right foot disability is dismissed. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PFB, left foot disability, hypertension, headache disability, and right knee and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right hip condition and its relationship to her service-connected disabilities, as well as her in-service psoriasis and subsequent diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis.

The Veteran's lumbar strain has been granted a 20 percent evaluation, effective February 21, 2017. The Board also remanded several service connection claims for further review.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PFB and the residuals of a right great toe injury have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to new evidence received since the last decisions. The AOJ will review this additional evidence and issue a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has denied the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of an initial compensable disability rating for dermatitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of clarity regarding the Veteran's use of over-the-counter anti-itch lotion for his chronic dermatitis. The VA examiner needs to provide an addendum opinion identifying all non-prescription treatments used by the Veteran and determining if any of these treatments qualify as 'systemic' therapy.

The Veteran's bladder cancer is granted service connection due to herbicide exposure. The skin condition, formerly claimed as chloracne, is denied service connection.

The Veteran's dermatographism is rated at a maximum of 60 percent since December 23, 2019.,A separate rating of 10 percent for right knee instability throughout the initial claims period is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral essential tremors and a skin disability due to insufficient development. The Veteran's symptoms of hand tremors are being evaluated under presumptive service connection principles, while his skin condition is being evaluated on a direct basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disabilities, including as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right shoulder disability and folliculitis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than the current 20 percent for the right shoulder disability, and no more than noncompensable for the folliculitis.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated as noncompensable, and his skin disability is currently rated at 10 percent prior to October 8, 2020, and 30 percent thereafter. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings for either condition.,The Veteran contends that both conditions warrant increased ratings throughout the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as his condition affects less than 5% of his total body and exposed areas.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including recurrent low back strain and right lower extremity neuropathy, precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to January 26, 2010. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and granted an increased rating of 30 percent for folliculitis from July 3, 2019. The decision also remanded several other issues.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's low back disorder as there was no evidence linking it to her military service.