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

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and conducting adequate VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis, finding that it had its onset during active duty and is related to his service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been found to preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, resulting in a grant of TDIU effective October 21, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, diabetic retinopathy, chloracne, and hypertension as the evidence did not support a nexus to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for arachnoid cyst, dry eyes (residual of PRK), and acid reflux have been granted. Service connection was denied for corneal opacity (residual of PRK) and tinea pedis. The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for hemorrhoids and umbilical hernia repair scar were also denied.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at 30 percent effective December 20, 2022.,Prior to December 20, 2022, the Veteran's eczema was rated as noncompensable. Since then, it has been rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran's eczema is rated higher since December 20, 2022.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims on appeal can be decided. The Veteran and his representative are being given an opportunity to submit any outstanding private or VA treatment records relevant to their claims, including updated VA treatment records since the last decision in January 2018 and February 2019.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability other than tinea pedis with tinea unguium, to include degenerative arthritis. The issues of service connection for light sensitivity, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, and neck condition are remanded.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all remaining issues on appeal, including PTSD, CFS, sleep apnea, and intertrigo tinea.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and remanded the skin disability claim. The cervical spine disability was denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the current condition is not related to active duty service. For the skin disability, the VA examiner found no evidence that it started during or was caused by military service, nor was it related to exposure to paints and chemicals used in the MOS.

The Veteran's bilateral heel pain, plantar fasciitis, and pes planus are rated at 50 percent effective November 21, 2018.,GERD is remanded for further development to determine the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and a disability rating have been dismissed because he opted his legacy appeal into the modernized review system (AMA).

The Veteran's service-connected Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) has not required any more than topical therapy, does not cause scarring or deep acne, and affects less than five percent of the exposed areas on his face and neck as well as less than five percent of his total body area. As a result, an initial compensable rating for PFB is denied.

The Veteran's Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) requires treatment with systemic therapy, but the VA examiner needs to determine if such therapy is like or similar to corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs. The rating for PFB will be remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable, as his education and work history were considered. The evidence showed he could perform sedentary work despite his conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for a compensable evaluation of PFB and an evaluation greater than 10 percent for chondromalacia patella. The Veteran's PFB covers less than 5% of exposed areas and does not require systemic therapy.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's skin disorder, which is presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on his service-connected disabilities, which include an unspecified depressive disorder, skin conditions, and a left index finger condition. The effective date will be determined by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been submitted, as well as the right ankle condition secondary claim. The Veteran will receive an SOC in response to his NOD.

The Veteran's skin conditions (poikiloderma rash and seborrheic keratosis) are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking them to his military service.,His dermatitis is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or new VA Rating Criteria.