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

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD was granted. Increased ratings were awarded for lumbar strain (40%), bilateral foot degenerative joint disease (10%), and migraine cephalgia (30%). The effective date for the increase to a 10 percent rating for bilateral feet degenerative joint disease is May 25, 2017.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension is denied.,Service connection for psoriasis and dermatitis is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 4, 2018 for tinnitus was denied. The earliest possible effective date is January 4, 2018.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claims of service connection for a prostate condition and bilateral hearing loss were granted. His PFB claim remains remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for meibomian gland dysfunction and eczema, finding that these conditions started in service and are not related to the Veteran's prior LASIK eye surgery.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral foot fungus and remanded the skin condition claims, including urticaria, chloracne, and other acneform disease. The case is now pending again due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, lumbosacral strain, eczema of the bilateral upper extremities and hands, scarring alopecia (perifolliculitis capitis abscedens), and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) facial have all been denied. The Board found no evidence to support service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection on the merits is remanded due to new evidence showing chronic back pain since discharge. Other claims are also remanded for VA examinations and opinions regarding potential service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and opinion regarding service connection for a skin disorder, including skin cancer, as well as secondary service connection due to migraine headaches. The claims are related to exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's mixed sleep apnea is granted as a MUCMI. The right knee, bilateral hearing loss, and psoriasis disabilities are denied due to lack of current diagnoses. The low back and left knee disabilities are also denied.

The Veteran's skin disability, including folliculitis, xerosis/contact dermatitis, and herpes genitalis, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to January 3, 2019. The evidence showed that his condition was stable with no systemic therapy required.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's recurrent dermatitis/skin rashes are proximately due to or aggravated by medication prescribed for his service-connected PTSD, including Bupropion.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as his substantive appeal was not timely filed, based on the presumption of regularity and lack of evidence to rebut it.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinea pedis and warts of the right foot, but denied service connection for a headache disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The right knee extension disability, left knee disability, and right knee flexion disability are all denied increased ratings. A separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's knee disabilities and PFB.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PFB, TMJ, and bilateral eye disorder (photophobia sensitivity to light) has been granted. The claims for right knee, left knee, erectile dysfunction, right foot, left foot, right toe, and left toe disorders are remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's psoriasis, right shoulder osteoarthritis, and sinusitis are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition (excluding osteoarthritis), to include tendinopathy and superior labral fraying, is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's low back condition is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, CAD, and sleep apnea due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty service. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not shown to have onset during service or be related to asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including gout and dyshidrotic eczema, have been granted. The issues of increased rating for other specified depressive disorder and service connection for genital warts, fibromyalgia, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, cervical radiculopathy, chronic fatigue syndrome, and a skin disorder are remanded.