Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder resulted in alcohol abuse, which caused his liver cancer and contributed to his death. As a result, the claim for cause of death is granted.

The Board has determined that additional remand is necessary due to the lack of independence and qualifications of the examiner, as well as issues regarding causation and foreseeability. The Veteran's claim for compensation under Section 1151 will be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The claim for a compensable rating for acne prior to November 5, 2014, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is remanded due to incomplete medical reports and failure to address the Veteran's lay reports of symptom exacerbations during flare-ups.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding a skin condition, vertigo, and PTSD. The Board dismissed these issues as the Veteran indicated satisfaction with the current decisions.

The Veteran's skin condition (chloracne) is granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam service.,The Veteran's heart disorder, including atrial fibrillation, left ventricular hypertrophy, and aortic regurgitation, are also granted as service-connected based on the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for plantar psoriasis and TDIU due to issues with the pre-decisional duty to assist error. A new VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The claims for groin disability, pseudofolliculitis, restless leg syndrome, and bilateral knee disability have not been granted as there is no new and relevant evidence received since the previous final denial.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for basal cell carcinoma and psoriasis due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for tinea pedis, finding no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection for hypertension secondary to migraine headaches is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, PTSD, acne disability, gastrointestinal disability, headache disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, and neurological disability of the right lower extremity have all been granted.

The Veteran's acne with dermatitis is currently rated at 10 percent from August 9, 2013. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for vertigo, TDIU, and Dependents' Educational Assistance were denied as there was no evidence of an increase in disability during the one year prior to his claim.

The Veteran's claims for cervical radiculopathy of the upper extremities and degenerative arthritis of the spine are remanded due to lack of recent VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus type II is remanded as there were no recent private medical records submitted.,The Veteran's claim for degenerative arthritis of the hands, with ununited fracture ulnar styloid on the right, is remanded due to lack of recent VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for gout, bilateral great toe MTP joint, is remanded as there were no recent private medical records submitted.,The Veteran's claim for left ankle insertional Achilles tendinopathy with gout is remanded due to inadequate nexus opinion on the part of the VA examiner.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension is remanded as there was no current diagnosis in the October 2021 VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for nummular eczema is remanded due to an inadequate nexus opinion based on the absence of a presumptive condition list.,The Veteran's claim for prostate condition is remanded due to an inadequate nexus opinion based on the absence of a presumptive condition list.

The Veteran's increased evaluations for tinea pedis and right lower extremity radiculopathy were granted in April 2022, but the appellant is not eligible to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded due to lack of a qualifying review request.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for mild patellofemoral cartilage degeneration of the right knee, jaw condition, unspecified chest pains, kidney condition, dermatitis/eczema, and respiratory condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's skin disorders, including tinea pedis and chloracne, may be related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents while serving in Vietnam. However, due to an inadequate examination, the case is being remanded for a new medical opinion addressing instances of in-service skin pathology.

The Board has denied service connection for headaches and a skin condition (claimed as acne and skin nodules) due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and service, including exposure in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disability, low back disability, left arm disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, hemorrhoids, and skin disability (pseudofolliculitis barbae) due to incomplete records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development regarding potential exposure to herbicide agents during service in Panama. The Veteran's claims for various conditions are now pending.

The Veteran's service-connected nummular eczema with ichthyosis has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment throughout the period on appeal, warranting a TDIU.