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

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral shin splints and right ankle injury were granted. The claims for bilateral pes planus and skin disorder (including onychomycosis and pseudofolliculitis barbae) are pending, with the latter two requiring further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding the Veteran's skin disorder, claimed as exfoliative dermatitis. The examiner needs to provide a rationale for their conclusion on whether the condition is related to service exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot skin condition, diagnosed as tinea pedis and onychomycosis, is service-connected. The evidence shows that the condition began during his military service and continued since then.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions, including increased ratings for various musculoskeletal disorders and a reduction in the rating for DJD of the lumbar spine. The Veteran also has an issue regarding service connection for tinnitus and another concerning TDIU.

The Veteran was granted service connection for hepatitis C, which is related to his in-service exposure to blood during a rocket attack. He also received service connection for a skin disorder, diagnosed as onychomycosis, tinea corporis, tinea cruris, erythema annulare centrifigum, MF (likely psoriasiform dermatitis), and tinea pedis, which he contends began in Vietnam.,The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his service due to exposure during a rocket attack. For his skin disorder, the Board determined that while there was no direct evidence of its onset during service, the Veteran's longstanding condition and medical history supported a finding of service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of CAD, as well as TDIU due to the Veteran's failure to provide necessary private treatment records. The case is now pending again with instructions to obtain these records.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder; fibromyalgia; tinnitus; bilateral hearing loss; and eczema. The right knee and left knee disorders are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbe, skin rash disorder, hernia, hypertension, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's conditions are found to have started during active service or are at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,Service connection is granted for the following conditions: pseudofolliculitis barbe, skin rash disorder, hernia, hypertension, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain his Social Security Administration (SSA) records, which may contain relevant information for his service connection claims.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for an initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae and service connection for erectile dysfunction, to include as secondary to the service-connected migraine headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in a combined rating of 100 percent prior to November 13, 2017. However, the Board finds that his single disability rated at 100 percent does not render him unemployable due to these conditions alone.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but has remanded them for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for tinea pedis of the feet was denied, but a separate rating is now required due to complaints of foot pain. The Board has ordered further development including a new VA examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected eczema on an extraschedular basis was denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including an increased rating for allergic rhinitis and service connection for a skin condition other than folliculitis. The TDIU issue is also deferred until further development on these issues is completed.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor with tinea pedis was granted a 10% rating from May 26, 2017. The claim for an increased rating for osteoarthritis of the left ring finger is denied.

The Board denied service connection for eczema, finding that the current diagnosis is not related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective January 29, 2016. Additionally, the Board found that he is eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits beginning on this date.,The earlier effective date for DEA benefits is also set to January 29, 2016.

The Board has denied service connection for tension headaches due to a lack of evidence showing the condition began during service or is related to an in-service injury.,Service connection for stomach disability, to include GERD and duodenal ulcer, thyroid disability, essential tremors, COPD, skin disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The case for a compensable evaluation for dyshidrotic eczema and service connection for a neurological disability of the bilateral upper extremities remains pending due to insufficient evidence.