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

The Veteran is granted TDIU and Special Monthly Compensation at the housebound rate for the entire appeal period, with effective dates of November 23, 2020.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left foot disorders due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU, as these were related to his tinea pedis. A VA examination is needed to determine if the psychiatric disorder is causally related to the tinea pedis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for dermatitis of the hands, finding that it is not related to his active duty service, including any exposure to herbicides. The medical opinions provided were deemed insufficient or inaccurate.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his depressive disorder and hypertension with renal kidney cancer, have led to a combined rating of 80 percent. However, the Board found insufficient evidence to support a TDIU due to the Veteran's failure to cooperate in providing necessary information.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the denial of his claim for service connection for multiple sclerosis (MS). The time period for filing an appeal of the January 2023 AMA rating decision has not passed, and as such, these legacy appeals cannot be adjudicated at this time.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a skin disorder other than pseudofolliculitis barbae is dismissed as moot. The claim for secondary service connection for unspecified depression and anxiety is granted. A TDIU is granted prior to April 28, 2022 and on and after September 8, 2022. The appeal for a TDIU from April 28, 2022 to September 8, 2022 is remanded.

The Veteran's psoriasis with dermatitis, to include pseudofolliculitis barbae and rosacea, is rated at 30 percent prior to June 13, 2020. A rating in excess of 60 percent from June 13, 2020, is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected acne with scarring did not meet the criteria for an increased (compensable) disability rating during the entire review period.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's VR&E claim should be remanded for further development regarding her employment history and eligibility for benefits due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service. The disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's eczema, tinea versicolor and tinea pedis does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent under either the pre-2018 or post-2018 rating criteria. The appeal is remanded to determine if there are any additional factors that may warrant an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for bilateral contact dermatitis of the feet and service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further consideration after additional evidence is considered.

The Board has found that additional procedural development is required and the claims are being remanded for further consideration. Specifically, a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) must be issued to address all evidence received since the May 2018 SOC.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, left knee disability, lower back disability, neck disability, acquired skin disorder (PFB, eczema, lichen simplex), and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depressive disorder). The claim for bilateral pes planus is granted due to aggravation of a pre-existing condition during active service. The other claims are remanded as new evidence has been received but the Board did not find it sufficient to grant service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The rating for the back disability was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to January 21, 2020, and thereafter. Other claims for increased ratings or earlier effective dates were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease with esophagitis and dermatitis of the scalp, claimed as a head fungus, are granted. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and bilateral shin splints remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for tinea pedis/unguium, a skin condition of the face (previously claimed as burns to face), lumbosacral sprain, bilateral foot condition, bilateral ankle condition, and pelvic muscle strain are all remanded due to lack of recent VA examinations addressing current nature and severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional records and further review.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and his need for aid and attendance or housebound status was also denied due to the lack of evidence linking his disabilities to his service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and granted an increased rating of 10 percent for atopic dermatitis. The decision on the service connection issue is final, while the increased rating remains pending.