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

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder and schizoaffective disorder, depressive type; chronic sinus and allergy disability; obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB); right foot and left foot disabilities; right knee and left knee disabilities; and cervical spine disability have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on his service-connected chloracne, anxiety disorder, and chronic sleep impairment secondary to bilateral hearing loss is being remanded. The TDIU issue will be deferred until the increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss is adjudicated.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for vitiligo and dermatitis, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current skin conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.,The issues include evaluations for various disabilities, including lumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left tibia stress fracture, right femoral stress fracture, and dermatitis.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of bilateral hearing loss is denied. Service connection has been granted for pes planus and tinea pedis, but the other foot disorders are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot tinea pedis and left foot tinea pedis. Service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70% disability rating for bipolar disorder is granted.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for dermatitis is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a procedural error in not considering whether extraschedular TDIU is warranted. The Veteran's service-connected conditions may have rendered him unemployable prior to May 10, 2004.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any skin disorder that may be present. The Veteran's claim for service connection for plaque psoriasis is based on presumed exposure to chemical, environmental, hazardous waste, and biologic contaminants during his active duty in Saudi Arabia.

The case is being remanded for further development regarding the severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected acne with hyperpigmentation from October 24, 2006, to February 25, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for tineas pedis right foot and a respiratory disability due to potential issues with continuity of symptomatology, causation, and aggravation. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions that are not directly related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition, finding that his current eczema and hyperpigmentation are not related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The issue of service connection for a bilateral hip condition as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine condition is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy, PFB, hypertension, and right knee disability. The appeal is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, and psoriasis. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 60% disability rating for eczema, effective June 1, 2016. The reduction from 60% to 30% was not proper due to lack of actual improvement in the condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, including dermatitis and actinic keratosis, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and active duty service.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for PFB and remanded the cases of right knee limitations, instability, and scar.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinnitus and a skin condition, including chloracne. Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's conditions are related to service or due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's skin disability, depressive disorder, and lumbar spine condition are all granted. The Veteran is awarded a 50% rating for his depressive disorder since February 28, 2011.

The Veteran's PFB preexisted service and was aggravated beyond the normal progress of the disease by his active service. The Board granted entitlement to service connection for PFB, but remanded the issue of service connection for a left knee condition.