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

The Board has determined that the VA did not substantially comply with its remand instructions and has therefore ordered a remanded for further development in both the tinea versicolor claim and the PTSD claim.

The Veteran's psoriasis is granted a maximum rating of 60 percent, effective from December 14, 2018. Service connection for hyperlipoproteinemia is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and is granted. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's current disability raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back pain, PTSD, TBI with headaches and numbness of upper and lower extremities are remanded as there are no recent medical records to assess the severity of these conditions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip pain, eczema, and muscle/joint pain due to an undiagnosed illness are remanded as VA opinions are inadequate. Further development is needed to determine if his disabilities qualify under presumptive provisions or if they are related to service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right hip pain is remanded as the VA opinion of record was inadequate and did not address direct service connection, aggravation prong of secondary service connection, or provide a rationale based on medical literature.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right hip conditions are remanded due to the need for further development.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriasis is remanded as the medical opinion was inadequate.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for infertility is remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing pre-service status and causation.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left lower teeth condition are remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded as there was insufficient evidence regarding the cause of his current conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable initial rating for bilateral tinea pedis prior to November 30, 2016 is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of the disability during this period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee strain was dismissed as the condition was already granted in a prior rating decision.,For eczema, the appeal is denied as there is no evidence showing that it meets the criteria for a compensable rating prior to January 22, 2020, and a rating in excess of 10 percent beginning January 22, 2020, and thereafter.

The Board has dismissed the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected neck disability, from January 11, 2006. The remaining issues have been remanded and will be addressed again.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinea pedis of the bilateral feet and left hand due to the need for additional medical evaluation and clarification regarding the application of the General Rating Formula.

The Veteran has withdrawn his service connection claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae and sleep apnea, leaving only the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraine headaches in the appeal.

The Veteran's skin lesions, diagnosed as seborrheic dermatitis and actinic keratosis, are remanded for further development due to the PACT Act requiring a VA medical opinion. The Veteran is presumed to have participated in a TERA (toxic exposure risk activity) during service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the Board finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error in satisfying a regulatory duty under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b). The matter will be referred to the Director, Compensation Service, for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) was granted with an effective date of August 30, 2019. The Board found that the April 2018 VA Form 9 was timely filed and thus the Veteran had a pending appeal from his initial claim received on August 16, 2011. Therefore, the effective date for service connection is set at August 16, 2011.

The Board has determined that the VA did not provide a sufficient examination or medical opinion regarding the Veteran's skin condition, specifically chloracne. The case is being remanded to address this issue.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for eczematous dermatitis is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination report and the need for a new one with consideration of the Veteran's credible lay statements.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 11, 2007 for the grant of a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's conditions rendered her unemployable as of that date.

The Veteran's skin disorder, including acne keloidalis and pseudofolliculitis barbae, is granted service connection. The petition to reopen the previously denied claims for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and dizziness due to Gulf War environmental hazards are also granted.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new evidence being added to the file and the Veteran's request for initial AOJ consideration.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The skin disability, variously claimed as contact dermatitis and neck rash, was denied. Other conditions were either not granted or remanded for further review.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the Veteran's death before a decision could be made.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.,Service connection for GERD, hiatal hernia, and skin condition (eczema) to include chronic fatigue syndrome is remanded due to incomplete or inadequate opinions in the current VA examinations.,The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome is also remanded for further examination and opinion.