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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for contact dermatitis due to herbicide agent exposure, but the claim for acne and bilateral hip disability remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriasis has been reopened and granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's acne scars on the back of his head are rated at a 10 percent disability rating for the entire appeal period, with no higher ratings granted.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for chronic urinary tract infections prior to August 7, 2022, and for acne have been granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment during the period on appeal, warranting a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran was granted initial compensable ratings for hypertension and pseudofolliculitis barbae, but denied an increased rating for right knee disability. The right knee disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling prior to November 4, 2022, and the appeal remains on hold due to a remand.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right knee fragmentation wound scar is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnosis of a right knee scar is related to his active military service, specifically an in-service shrapnel wound during his tour in Vietnam. For other issues, including increased ratings for various disabilities and renal insufficiency prior to December 14, 2020, the decision remains pending as these are not final decisions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, recurrent skin disability to include dermatitis and eczema, hypertension, and a recurrent disability manifested by weight loss are all denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or other presumptive conditions. The diagnoses were not shown during active service or within many years thereafter.

The Veteran's skin disorder, diagnosed as tinea versicolor, was not incurred in service. The Board found that the current condition is unrelated to his military service and denied the claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The remaining issues were remanded for further examination and rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to September 15, 2018; rather his nonservice-connected disabilities contributed to his unemployability.

The Veteran's PFB condition is rated at a 30 percent level, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a qualifying chronic disability or other basis for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and chloracne, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and presumed herbicide exposure during his military service. The claims for a lumbar spine disorder, right hip disorder, and skin disorders other than chloracne have been remanded due to lack of evidence.

The Board has remanded the claim for a compensable disability rating for service-connected environmental dermatitis of the right leg, including whether it has spread to other body parts like the head and arms. The Veteran testified that his skin disorder is all over his head, under his arm, and on his right leg.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate reasoning and need for a new examination, including one specific to exposure during service in the Southwest Asia Theatre of Operations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for high blood pressure, sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, pseudofolliculitis (now claimed as shaving profile), and upper extremity neurological condition. The claims are granted to the extent that they were not previously denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine was granted. The Veteran's tinea pedis bilateral feet with onychomycosis and erythema annulare was increased to a 10 percent rating, effective April 7, 2017. The Veteran's hemorrhoids were not increased in rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance of another person due to functional limitations, but additional compensation under SMC(r)(1) or SMC(r)(2) is precluded as he does not meet the threshold requirement for consideration.