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

The Veteran's spouse, L.H., is the caregiver and has been providing personal care services for him. The Board found that participation in the PCAFC would significantly enhance his ability to live safely at home. However, the claim was remanded due to incomplete caregiver training and assessment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the initial grant of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is denied. The Board found that the September 1997 claim did not reasonably encompass a claim for CAD, and therefore, VA did not receive a valid claim prior to August 31, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and the need for further review regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions and a compensable rating have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his service in Iraq.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for anal fissures and pseudofolliculitis barbae are remanded due to the need for new examinations to address changes in disability status.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not clear enough and needs more information. They need to get his Social Security Administration records, which may help them understand why he received disability benefits.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for chloracne remains at 10 percent, but the Board has ordered additional development to assess the current severity and manifestations of his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the severity of his eczema, keloid scars on the left upper extremity (LUE), and anterior trunk. The issues include seeking higher ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's disability rating for service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae has been fully restored to 30 percent effective December 1, 2015. The issue of an earlier effective date is dismissed as moot.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to July 2, 2016, finding that he was not working full-time and therefore did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

Service connection for a heart condition (to include hypertension) and skin conditions are granted. Service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits has been withdrawn.,The Board is remanding several issues related to the character of discharge from service and their impact on VA benefits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and lack of contemporaneous medical records.

The appeal for service connection for atopic dermatitis is dismissed. The appeals for sinusitis, left knee disorder, left hip impingement syndrome, allergic rhinitis, pes planus, right hand sprain, and right hamstring strain are all remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for LEFT shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with AC joint osteoarthritis, LEFT ring finger limitation of motion, and a LEFT wrist scar have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for an initial rating greater than 0 percent for a RIGHT chest scar (status post cyst removal), secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction, and service connection for insomnia / sleep disorder have been granted.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD with associated anxiety has been granted.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for deviated nasal septum from a broken nose has been denied due to aggravation of a pre-existing condition.,The Veteran's appeals for secondary service connection for insomnia / sleep disorder and erectile dysfunction have been granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction (ED), alopecia, pseudofolliculitis barbae, left shoulder osteoarthritis, left elbow tendonitis, neck pain, hypertension (HTN), and rhinitis were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeal of these claims before the decision was promulgated.

The Board has granted service connection for tinea pedis of the bilateral feet and hypogonadism with low testosterone, finding that both conditions had their onset during active duty service.

The Veteran's tinea pedis with onychomycosis of bilateral feet is currently rated under the old criteria and needs to be re-evaluated due to a lack of recent VA treatment records. The Board has ordered an addendum opinion from a VA clinician to determine if the use of Griseofulvin constitutes systemic therapy, which would affect his disability rating.