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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year of separation and is not shown to be causally related to an in-service event.,The Veteran's psoriasis may have worsened since the last examination. A new VA examination is needed to determine its current nature and severity.,Spinal stenosis, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and glaucoma are all potentially related to herbicide exposure during service. Further evaluation is required to establish a connection.,COPD and pulmonary fibrosis may be related to the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. A new VA examination is needed to evaluate these conditions.,Pulmonary fibrosis and COPD are both related to the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. Further evaluation is required to establish a connection.,Glaucoma is not service-connected as it may be due to refractive error, which cannot be subject to herbicide exposure presumption.,Obstructive sleep apnea is inextricably intertwined with the Veteran's claims for COPD and pulmonary fibrosis. These claims must be remanded first.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, GERD, thyroid disorder, fibromyalgia, cholecystitis, skin disorders, and joint issues is granted. The decision also remands the claims for an eye disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and other related secondary service connection claims.

The Board has withdrawn the issues of service connection for chloracne, effective date prior to February 28, 2013, for a 20 percent rating for diabetes mellitus, and increased ratings for erectile dysfunction (ED), coronary artery disease (CAD) with myocardial infarction (MI) and status post coronary bypass surgery, acne vulgaris with scarring, and DM. The issues of initial compensable ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity (LUE), right (major) upper extremity (RUE), left (minor) lower extremity (LLE), and right lower extremity (RLE) have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in a previous decision regarding whether the Veteran's current skin disorders are related to his service-connected malaria and antimalarial medication use.

The Veteran's current skin condition, including eczematous dermatitis and lichen simplex, is related to his in-service incidents of a skin condition, then-diagnosed as rashes and pseudofolliculitis barbae. Service connection for the skin condition is granted on a direct basis.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for PFB was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The right knee strain with degenerative changes claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection requests for left knee disability and cervical spine disability are also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for gastrointestinal issues, irritable bowel syndrome, left wrist fracture disability rating, bilateral hearing loss disability rating, and TDIU have been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for atopic dermatitis (claimed as skin condition), erectile dysfunction, and Acquired Leg Length Discrepancy.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's skin disorders and his service, including as having manifested during or soon after service.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae has been denied.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being remanded for further development to determine appropriate evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis, finding that the Veteran's current skin condition is not related to her active service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is service connected. The other issues are remanded for further examination and/or development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for contact dermatitis, left foot onychomycosis, and bilateral hearing loss are all granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for updated records and an addendum opinion from a dermatologist regarding the Veteran's skin conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn, and the remaining issues of service connection are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for acne vulgaris with sebaceous cysts is remanded due to the need for an updated examination and consideration of additional VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective September 19, 2017. His initial acne rating remains at 10 percent from September 19, 2017 to March 1, 2022 and then reclassified as a noncompensable scar of the back from that date onwards. Service connection for left knee arthritis and neck disability is denied. Service connection for dizziness is also denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, but denied all other issues on appeal.,Service connection was not established for any of the conditions on appeal.

The Veteran's dermatitis has been granted an initial 10 percent evaluation, effective from the date of service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder is granted, and the remanded issue of a compensable rating for tinea pedis (athlete's foot) is also addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and tinea pedis, both presumed due to herbicide exposure. Service connection was denied for GERD, tinea corporis, neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and neuropathy of the left lower extremity.