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

The Veteran's tinea versicolor, rheumatoid arthritis, sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, rosacea, and depressive disorder have been granted service connection. The rating for tinea versicolor is set at 10 percent.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a higher rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for left hand DJD (residuals of fractured left ring finger), hammer toe of right second, third, and fourth toes, and skin disability have been denied. The case is remanded for further development regarding the skin disability.,The Veteran's initial compensable rating for scar, left posterior leg has not yet been assigned.

The Board has dismissed all claims for service connection due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate November 2022 opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected tinea disorder aggravated his appendectomy scar.

The case is being remanded for additional development regarding the severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected acne with hyperpigmentation from October 24, 2006, to February 25, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of skin conditions, diabetes with erectile dysfunction, left hand skin rash, and TDIU due to incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran's complete VA treatment records from Fort Myers VA outpatient clinic and Bay Pines VAMC are needed.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities is established, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to insufficient medical evidence of record and a need for a combined-effects medical examination. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include major depressive disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, gout, lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome, left sciatic nerve impingement, right sciatic nerve impingement, hypertension, tinnitus, left upper lip scar, right thigh scar, left posterior thorax scar, and bilateral tinea pedis. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded to allow for a proper examination and evaluation of his employment impact.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow any form of substantially gainful employment prior to January 25, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea pedis was denied as there is no evidence that his current condition is related to active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and nummular dermatitis, did not result in functional impairment that precluded him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 11, 2014.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder and somatic symptom disorder, right shoulder impingement syndrome, degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome L4-L5, left hip trochanteric pain syndrome, iliopsoas bursitis limitation of flexion, right hip trochanteric pain syndrome, iliopsoas bursitis, limitation of flexion, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right wrist sprain. The Veteran's bilateral eye condition, eczema, left foot ring-toe condition, and sinusitis have also been dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his combined rating of service-connected disabilities has been at least 100 percent throughout the appeal period, and he was not found to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that it does not have jurisdiction over the propriety of any rating prior to September 22, 2014. The claims for increased ratings are still in appellate status and remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations considering both old and new rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and an initial rating of 20 percent for diabetes, but denied increased ratings for tinea corporis and PTSD.,The appellant's hypertension is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents during active duty. The Board found that the evidence was in approximate balance regarding whether the appellant has a current disability of hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) as there is no evidence that his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected neurodermatitis is rated as noncompensable, with the condition affecting less than 5% of his body and requiring only topical therapy.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.