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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB).

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for low back disability. The claims of service connection for psoriasis and low back disability secondary to bilateral knee disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and extraschedular rating for bilateral tinea pedis is being remanded due to procedural issues, need for additional evidence, and consideration of the impact on employment.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for psoriasis and a right foot disability, including hammertoes and degenerative arthritis. The reasons are that the Board failed to address evidence in the record regarding periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and/or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's asthma, BCC, and dermatitis/eczema claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chloracne or other skin disorder, to include as secondary to toxic herbicide exposure, is denied. The Board found no evidence linking the current skin condition to active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, including eczema, acne, contact dermatitis, and skin tags, finding that her current diagnoses do not support a link to in-service conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a missed VA examination for folliculitis. The Veteran's representative attempted to opt into the Appeals Modernization Act, but the appeal is being processed under the legacy system.

The Veteran's claim for a headache disorder was denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of a chronic headache disability.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for depressive disorder with anxiety and anxiety is set at September 12, 2013, which is when the Veteran filed an informal claim.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for dermatitis is set at October 7, 2013, based on a telephone call from the Veteran to VA requesting service connection for his skin rash and other disabilities.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for a scar due to back surgery is set at July 8, 2014, which is when the Veteran underwent the surgery resulting in the scar.,The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation greater than 10 percent for his service-connected dermatitis was denied as it does not meet the criteria for such a rating under the applicable VA regulations.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and the initial ratings in excess of 10 percent prior to May 2, 2018, and in excess of 60 percent thereafter for seborrheic dermatitis are denied. The TDIU is granted but remanded.

The Veteran's dyshidrotic eczema is granted as service-connected. The PTSD ratings are denied, and the TDIU claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions considering all relevant evidence.,For the period prior to September 14, 2020, the Veteran's dermatitis rating remains denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under both old and new regulations.,From September 14, 2020, the Veteran's dermatitis is rated at 10 percent due to intermittent topical therapy. The remand requires further examination to determine if this rating should be higher.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinea pedis and onychomycosis, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, prostate cancer, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since March 1, 2020. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for muscle aches, respiratory disability, skin disorder (pseudofolliculitis barbae), acquired psychiatric disability, and lumbar spine disability due to inadequate development. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal to establish an initial compensable rating for service-connected folliculitis barbae is remanded due to the untimely filing of his substantive appeal. The Board also finds a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected folliculitis barbae.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder of the face as secondary to hidradenitis suppurativa and remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for hidradenitis suppurativa.

The Veteran's shin splints with stress fractures of the left and right lower extremities are granted a 10 percent rating prior to January 23, 2020. The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis is granted a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance is being remanded due to the VAMC not considering whether it was warranted based on medications used for the treatment of disseminated eczema and tinea pedis. The case has not yet been addressed by the VAMC.