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

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's skin condition, which includes his claims of Agent Orange exposure and sun exposure during service.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The maximum schedular rating of 60 percent for psoriasis is granted from August 22, 2017.,The Veteran's service-connected psoriasis has been rated at the highest possible level (60%) since August 22, 2017.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae has been rated at 10 percent since October 1, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for a 60 percent rating for psoriasis is granted. The appeal to readjudicate service connection for residuals of a right finger fracture, headaches, insomnia, left knee condition, right knee condition, and back condition is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for dermatosis, chronic sinusitis, and a headache disability have been granted. The Veteran also received increased evaluations for PTSD (70%), fibromyalgia (40%), and irritable bowel syndrome (30%). Bilateral hearing loss was denied.,An effective date of August 6, 2018, has been assigned for the 70% evaluation for PTSD. Effective dates have also been assigned for increased evaluations for fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae has been granted, as new and relevant evidence was submitted. The appeal is now remanded to determine the nature of the condition and its relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of cold injury to the bilateral lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking any current condition to his period of active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to address hyperpigmentation in the most recent VA examination. The Veteran is required to provide medical records, undergo a new VA examination, and have his service-connected PFB disability rated.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, Lyme disease, eczema, and an earlier effective date for anemia due to the appellant's withdrawal of these issues.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher initial evaluation for irritant dermatitis and service connection for shin splints have been remanded due to inadequate examinations. The VA is required to provide new or updated examinations to address the percentage of total body area affected by the Veteran's irritant dermatitis and to determine whether his shin splints are related to service.

The Veteran's eczema (skin rashes) and impingement of the right shoulder are related to his active military service, but the Board finds that VA did not obtain adequate medical opinions prior to the February 2019 rating decision. The Veteran's back condition is related to service, but the VA medical opinions do not address whether it was aggravated by service.,The Veteran's multilevel spondylosis with facet arthropathy of the lumbar spine is related to his active military service and is not aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and nonservice-connected pension due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the veteran's skin conditions. The claims will be reconsidered with additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or a nexus to his current disabilities.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for several service-connected conditions, including skin condition, flat feet, GERD, left knee condition, left wrist condition, and left wrist scar. The Veteran's fibromyalgia and hypertension were granted service connection.,Several issues are remanded for further review, including initial ratings for various disabilities.

The Veteran's atopic dermatitis is now rated at 30 percent, effective November 22, 2016. The Board found that the use of oral prednisone for less than six weeks during any twelve-month period did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the old version of Diagnostic Code 7806. However, considering VA treatment records and lay testimony, the Board determined that the Veteran used prednisone for at least six weeks in some twelve-month periods, which could be considered systemic therapy and warranted a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action on several issues, including PTSD ratings and compensation claims. Specific actions required include obtaining SSA records and issuing a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae with facial scarring has been rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under current regulations. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the characteristics of disfigurement or instability.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) due to additional evidence received after transfer to the Board.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is granted a 10% evaluation, effective from the date of this decision.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PFB is granted. The issue of service connection for hypertension is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion.