Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2024

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for PFB, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, sciatic radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, chronic left ankle sprain, left knee strain, tinnitus, and left hand eczema with resolved cellulitis, do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied service connection for bronchitis, headaches, right shoulder disability, dermatitis, dry eye syndrome, kidney stones, and pharyngitis. The Veteran's claims are remanded due to potential exposure to toxic substances during service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate examination and evaluation of the Veteran's left hip, as well as retrospective medical opinions regarding the range of motion during flare-ups and whether the treatment for tinea pedis amounts to systemic therapy.

The Veteran's right knee strain is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.,There is no current diagnosis of dermatitis/skin condition, and the claim for this issue is remanded.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is denied.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for entitlement to service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae is denied.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability is granted. Entitlement to service connection for constipation is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for an abdominal condition (other than constipation) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for an esophageal disability, to include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and dyspepsia, is denied.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae, finding that the condition affected less than 5 percent of the Veteran's total or exposed body area and did not require systemic therapy.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis, left foot pes planus, and dermatophytosis due to a duty to assist error. The VA must obtain adequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's tinea barbae was found to manifest with characteristic lesions covering less than 20 percent of exposed area and total body area, which is most consistent with a 10 percent rating. The Board denied the claim for an increased rating as the criteria for a higher rating are not met or more nearly approximated.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder and cannabis use was granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent. Other service connection claims were denied or remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected rhinitis and acne disabilities are currently rated as noncompensable.,The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee disability and pseudofolliculitis barbae were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher rating.

The Veteran withdrew all active appeals regarding the service connection issues listed in his May 18, 2022 Notice of Disagreement. The appeal is dismissed as withdrawn.

The Veteran's scar, post right inguinal hernia surgical repair is granted a 20 percent rating.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for a skin condition (chloracne and/or dermatitis) as secondary to herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for acute renal failure (kidney condition) as due to an enlarged prostate and/or herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis as due to herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for total right knee replacement, to include as due to rheumatoid arthritis and/or herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for depression with sleep disturbance, to include as secondary to rheumatoid arthritis is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis due to the lack of evidence of a current disability during or contemporary to the pendency of the claim.,The Veteran's dermatitis is remanded as there are unclear issues regarding whether topical treatment is systemic therapy and if medications used are like or similar to corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs.,The Board has remanded service connection for a neck condition due to an inadequate factual premise in the previous opinions, specifically the lack of documentation of complaints or treatment for a neck condition during military service.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding the claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral tinea pedis/tinea unguium. The case is being remanded for a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's medication (Fluconazole, Lubriderm topical lotion, and mipirocin ointment) is 'like or similar to' a corticosteroid or other immunosuppressive drug.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for psoriasis and bilateral hearing loss due to issues with obtaining necessary medical records, including those from Dr. C.W., and further development is required to address the impact of his service-connected PTSD and hypertension on his psoriasis.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral dermatophytosis tinea pedis, so the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment from at least August 1, 2014, and the Board granted a TDIU effective that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The dermatophytosis of the bilateral feet was rated as noncompensable, while the plantar warts of the bilateral feet also received a noncompensable rating.