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

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for scar, status post spinal fusion, was dismissed. The claim of residuals of head trauma (claimed as dental trauma) has been reopened and is currently under consideration. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastroenteritis, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), respiratory disorder (recurrent aspiration pneumonia), cardiac disorder (atherosclerosis), acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals of head trauma, facial scars, bilateral eye disorder, cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, bilateral elbow disorder (tendinitis), bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bilateral pes planus have been remanded for further review.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his claims of service connection for right knee condition, left knee condition, right foot condition, and a psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and thus grants his claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's facial skin condition is rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran was previously granted TDIU based on multiple service-connected disabilities prior to May 15, 2015, but the claim for TDIU after that date is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder, including chloracne, as there is no current evidence of the claimed condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TB residuals was denied. The Board found no evidence of active TB or TB related symptomatology during the pendency of the appeal. For TDIU, the Veteran met the criteria under 38 C.F.R. � 4.16(a) as he had two or more disabilities with at least one rated at 40 percent or more and sufficient additional disability to bring the combined rating to at least 70 percent. The Veteran is already in receipt of SMC benefits, thus TDIU was not granted.

The Board has found that additional development is needed and the case must be remanded for further consideration.

The Board dismissed the appeal because service connection for dermatitis of the bilateral feet was already granted in a previous rating decision, and no longer requires further review.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for eczema are being remanded due to the need for clarification on the scale of medication use affecting her entire body.

The Veteran's PFB and hemorrhoids do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under applicable VA regulations.,The residual scarring of pilonidal cystectomy does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's tinea pedis with onychomycosis of the bilateral feet was granted an initial disability rating of 60 percent prior to March 27, 2019. Since then, a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his service-connected skin condition and right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to incomplete medical records and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran will need to provide updated treatment records and undergo new examinations for her atopic dermatitis, left shoulder strain, and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been reopened, and the issue of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae, scar, right middle finger, third digit, residuals of left stab wounds to the thigh and buttock/ tender scar with limitation of flexion and pain on motion, rhinitis, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus type II (secondary to high blood pressure), retinopathy, hernia disability, chronic kidney disease (claimed as renal failure), arthritis of the right hand (variously claimed as arthritis of multiple joints), and testicular disability/ epididymitis is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his left hand scar was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating as there were no three or four unstable or painful scars.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for limitation of motion of third and fourth finger, left hand, was also denied. The combined rating for disabilities of an extremity cannot exceed the rating for amputation of that extremity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back and left knee conditions, do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's facial scarring is rated at 30 percent since April 29, 2016.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to service-connected scarring is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea, vision problems, and acquired psychiatric disorder are related to service. However, due to incomplete information regarding the severity of his skin conditions during flare-ups, a remand is necessary for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied in July 2004, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim. The effective date of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy is set at July 21, 2011.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for psoriasis, GERD, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and right knee disability are denied. The effective date of service connection for presbyopia with hypermetropia, astigmatism, and pinguecula is set at July 21, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from July 17, 2019.