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

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's skin disability, including its onset during service and any connection to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's skin disability and headache disability have been granted service connection.,Issues regarding joint pain, shoulder disabilities, and gastrointestinal polyps are still pending and will be remanded for further review.

The Veteran's facial and neck folliculitis began during active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's dermatitis, hypertension (HTN), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) have been granted service connection due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during his military service.,Service connection for tuberculosis (TB) has been denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examination reports and inextricably intertwined with TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between his claimed conditions and military service, including presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The appeals concerning dizziness, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral orbital pseudotumor as secondary to the service-connected disability of migraine and mixed headache disorder, restless leg syndrome, left hip condition, right hip condition, and right shoulder condition have been dismissed.,Obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.

The Veteran's tinea pedis was not rated higher than 0% as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Service connection for epididymitis or residuals of epididymitis, erectile dysfunction, sterility, hypertension, heart disability (CAD), stomach disability, skin disability other than tinea pedis, respiratory disability (COPD), and psychiatric disorder were all denied as they did not meet the criteria for service connection.,The Veteran's tinea pedis was rated 0% due to it affecting less than 5% of his body or exposed areas without requiring systemic therapy.

The Veteran's skin conditions, including psoriasis, tinea corporis, and atopic dermatitis, are remanded for further development. The spine disability is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim for psoriasis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left shoulder, right shoulder, thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, left upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral knee, bilateral elbow, headache, and eczema to the eyelids, ears, face, back, and forearms, are remanded for additional examinations to assess their current severity.

The Board granted an initial 30 percent rating for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) prior to May 31, 2022. From May 31, 2022, the Veteran's condition is rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's duodenal ulcer, rhinitis, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, chronic dermatitis (bilateral arms), gastroenteritis, and GERD have been granted service connection. The remaining issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a new medical opinion regarding his claimed skin disability, as the previous one was deemed inadequate.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for alopecia has been withdrawn.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus and athlete's foot (tinea pedis).,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and IBS are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 12, 2017 for the grant of a 60 percent rating for PFB with morphea. The Veteran's service-connected skin condition manifested as symptoms requiring constant or near constant systemic therapy within one year prior to October 17, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, eczema, cervical disability, back disability, PFB, and psychiatric disability associated with PFB are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus has been withdrawn. The claim of service connection for lack of concentration and memory loss is denied.,The Veteran's chronic sinusitis, GERD, and allergic rhinitis are each rated at 10 percent. Service connection for dermatitis is granted at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability and vertigo due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand instructions. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development, including obtaining addendum opinions from VA physicians.

The Board has remanded the cases due to missing private treatment records from the Veteran's care providers. The VA is instructed to attempt to obtain these records and include them in the claims file.