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

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for insomnia disability and denied his claims for right thigh, bilateral hand, bilateral foot, seizure disorder, shin splints, eczema, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity neuralgia, lumbar scar, psychiatric disability, migraines, cystic acne, and hiatal hernia with gastritis and history of healed gastric antral ulcer.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete factual background, requiring further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a compensable rating for dyshidrotic eczema due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's service connection claim for folliculitis of the scalp is granted. The Board found that a current diagnosis of folliculitis was established during service and not due to any pre-existing condition or another service-connected disability.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for cause of death due to new and material evidence. However, the case is remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cause of death.

The Veteran's PFB is rated at a 10 percent disability rating from February 17, 2023. The Board has remanded the remaining issues for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for hidradenitis suppurativa and nodular acne, finding that she is already receiving the maximum schedular rating for these conditions as they do not affect her face or neck.

The Board has granted service connection for folliculitis and dermatitis, finding that they are caused by the Veteran's service-connected acne rosacea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for dermatitis and eczema due to insufficient examination addressing all diagnosed skin conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral foot tinea unguium pedis and scars has been withdrawn. The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, effective from April 5, 2016.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's PFB appeal is remanded due to the addition of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to toxic substances and its relation to his claimed conditions of ulcerative colitis and psoriasis.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with alcohol use disorder prior to December 5, 2022 was denied. The Veteran also received an award of TDIU effective May 2, 2016.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension have been granted service connection. The bilateral retinopathy is secondary to the hypertension, chronic kidney disease with end stage renal disease is secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, and dermatitis and eczema are presumed due to service.,Left upper extremity, right upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been denied as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or functional impairment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for acne scars of the face and neck was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The initial compensable rating for anterior and posterior trunk acne scars prior to February 9, 2023, and a rating higher than 10 percent thereafter, were also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinea pedis and onychomycosis are related to service, while his left knee strain is considered secondary to service-connected bilateral calluses of the feet. The appeal for hearing loss was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of removal of a skin growth and bilateral foot disorder other than tinea pedis is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to new evidence received since the last Statement of the Case. The claims will be readjudicated in a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was granted effective December 27, 2006. The decision also grants basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) based on permanent and total disability status as of the same date.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and record development.