Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating prior to October 1, 2020, for service-connected eczematoid dermatitis is granted and a disability rating of 60 percent is allowed effective May 18, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) prior to September 25, 2019, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter is remanded due to a failure to notify the Veteran of his scheduled VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the failure to obtain VA treatment records and inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is requested to provide names, addresses, and dates of treatment for all VA and non-VA health care providers who have treated him for his disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin disability and bilateral foot disability, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or presumed herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's cystic acne is granted as service-connected.,Left and right foot plantar fasciitis with heel spurs are granted as service-connected.,Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) claim is remanded due to lack of VA examination.,Cholelithiasis and cholecystitis claims are remanded due to lack of VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for chronic tinea pedis, xerosis, onychocryptosis, onychomycosis, and matricectomies of the bilateral feet is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed skin conditions are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of their occurrence during active duty or a link to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date earlier than March 16, 2022, for a 30 percent rating for his skin disability (eczema and furuncles), finding that no earlier evidence satisfied the criteria for this rating.

The Veteran's eczema is currently rated as noncompensable under the skin disability rating criteria. The Board finds that his condition does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation based on the current evidence of record.

The Veteran's dermatitis with dyshidrosis has not affected more than five percent of his total or exposed body areas and required only topical therapy, thus the claim for an initial compensable rating is denied.

The Veteran's rating for seborrheic dermatitis was reduced from 30 percent to noncompensable effective February 1, 2019. The Board has now reinstated the 30 percent rating.

The Veteran is seeking earlier effective dates for service connection of chloracne, acne vulgaris, and scarring from these conditions based on a claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the January 1994 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeals for an earlier effective date and a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) are dismissed due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of December 20, 2019.,Initial ratings were denied for bilateral hearing loss and chloracne.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his skin conditions due to incomplete records from his active duty period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 9, 2021.

The Veteran's skin disorder is granted service connection, and a restoration of the 30 percent rating for dermatitis effective November 6, 2017. The claim for higher ratings for diabetes mellitus type 2 with erectile dysfunction and post-radiation neck dermatitis remains denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn all five issues of service connection for various dermatitis and lump conditions from appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for VR&E services, including self-employment assistance, should be remanded due to deficiencies in the initial evaluation and lack of consideration of whether self-employment is a suitable vocational goal.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae, a skin condition, had its onset during service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.