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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (including right ankle ankylosis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and tinnitus) rendered him unable to obtain substantially gainful employment prior to March 16, 2017. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a skin condition other than folliculitis was denied as the evidence did not support a finding that his current skin disability is related to active service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was rated at 10 percent, and no higher rating was granted due to the absence of nasal polyps. The claim for an increased rating remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for a separate compensable rating for tinea pedis was denied, and the Board remanded his sleep apnea service connection claim due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to evaluate the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine, left and right shoulder, left and right wrist, sinusitis, colon polyp, and skin disabilities due to their recent onset or lack of treatment records. The Veteran is also required to undergo an examination for his claimed low back disorder and bilateral hearing loss/tinnitus.

The Board has determined that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for Lyme disease. The Veteran's service records show a positive titer for Lyme disease, and her medical history indicates she had symptoms consistent with this condition during active duty. Therefore, the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for Lyme disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, right shoulder disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, and acne due to insufficient evidence or inadequate opinions in previous examinations.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in December 2019 was inadequate to decide the claim, and thus remanded for additional development including a new VA examination.

The Board has not obtained all requested service treatment records and did not document the attempts to locate them. The case is being remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for status post right inguinal hernia repair and surgical scar, status post right inguinal hernia repair have been denied.,The Veteran's eczema issue is remanded due to new evidence submitted after the February 2020 VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetic psoriasis has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease is granted. The claim for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss is denied, and the claim for entitlement to a compensable rating for dermatitis is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a recurrent rash of the face and hands, variously diagnosed, is granted.,Service connection is denied for any other skin condition, including toenail fungus (tinea unguium).,The Veteran's hypertension secondary to his service-connected chronic adjustment disorder with major depressive disorder remains under consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient compliance with prior Board remand directives regarding the treatment of his service-connected bilateral tinea pedis from March 2003 to November 5, 2007.

The claim for service connection for left hand surgery, trigger finger, and s/p dupuytren's contracture release is dismissed. The claims for service connection for carotid stenosis and ASPVD (claimed as clotted arteries) and eczema are remanded.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinea versicolor was previously denied in March 1994 and is now being reopened. However, no new and material evidence has been received to support the reopening of this claim.,The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating greater than 70 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of hearing loss, skin rash of upper back (tinea versicolor), and headaches. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's skin conditions and sleep apnea are caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II and PTSD. The opinions should also address whether obesity is a result of these service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for joint pain and muscle spasm is dismissed. The claims of service connection for chronic musculoligamentous strain of the left shoulder, a right hip disability, and tinea corpus of the body and tinea pedis of the bilateral feet are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA skin examination to determine if any identified skin disability had its onset during active service or is related to any incident of service, including documented shaving irritation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased evaluations and service connection, as further examinations are required to assess the severity of his bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, calcaneal spurs, and first metatarsophalangeal joint arthritis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, right knee disabilities, diabetes mellitus, and sleep apnea.