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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right knee, neck, left shoulder, and right shoulder conditions. The issues are related to whether these conditions had their onset in or are otherwise etiologically related to active service.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 50 percent disabling, effective April 19, 2016. The issue of increased rating for tinea pedis (formerly tinea corporis) is remanded.

The Board has found that the RO did not ensure substantial compliance with its February 2023 remand directives regarding the increased rating claim for eczema. Another remand is required to obtain relevant private records and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis was not rated compensably, and the Board has remanded for further development regarding service connection for a respiratory condition and a neck condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to care for daily personal needs or to protect himself from the hazards and dangers incident to his daily environment without assistance of others, thus SMC based on aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with an initial rating of 70 percent effective June 9, 2018. Other conditions are also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder other than cold urticaria, finding no evidence of a current condition and noting that any symptoms were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for left and right knee disabilities were denied, with the denial of the eczema claim being remanded.,An effective date of April 5, 2018, was granted for the service connection of eczema.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including skin disorder, heart disorder, urethral disorder, fatigue disorder, and sleep disorder. The AOJ will obtain additional medical records and schedule VA examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for acne was received on October 24, 2017. The effective date for the 30 percent rating is set to this date as there is no evidence of worsening within one year prior.

The Veteran's skin disability and right ear benign glomus tumor are granted service connection. The claim for TDIU prior to January 20, 2012 is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of bilateral hearing loss, left knee condition, and pseudofolliculitis barbae are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for seborrheic dermatitis and tinea cruris is dismissed. The Board also remanded his claim for a disability rating increase.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 60 percent rating for service-connected tinea versicolor from January 1, 2019 to present. The reduction was not proper due to sustained improvement in the condition requiring constant or near-constant systemic therapy.

The Board denied service connection for tinea pedis as the Veteran's preexisting condition did not show aggravation during service, and clear and unmistakable evidence demonstrated that it existed prior to his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged exposure to herbicides and missing service records.,The Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to determine whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his active duty, particularly at the Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) in Gulfport, Mississippi.

The Veteran's skin disorders, including acne and herpes, are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating of 30 percent for acne and scarring of the face and neck has been granted. The condition is characterized by deep acne affecting less than 40 percent of the face and neck, or deep acne other than on the face and neck.

The Board has granted service connection for pityriasis rubra pilaris and denied a higher rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for seborrheic dermatitis and keratosis pilaris, finding that the conditions did not warrant a compensable rating prior to August 13, 2018, and a 10 percent rating thereafter.