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

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the effective date for the award of service connection for PFB was denied.

The Veteran's dermatitis with actinic keratosis was rated at 60 percent prior to and from March 14, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for PFB was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for such.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence showing impairment recognized as a disability for VA compensation purposes.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted, with the evidence being in approximate balance regarding its etiology.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected peripheral neuropathy disabilities, which have rendered him wheelchair dependent and unable to perform daily tasks.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Parkinson's Disease was denied. The claims for residuals of deviated nasal septum, skin disability other than dermatitis, right knee disability, left knee disability, and eye disability (secondary to hypertension) are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for BPF, but has remanded his claim for tinea pedis due to insufficient evidence in the October 2021 VA examination.

Service connection for hypercholesterolemia, microscopic hematuria, bilateral hearing loss, tinea versicolor, psoriatic arthritis of the knees, shoulders, and ankles, a bilateral shoulder disability (including psoriatic arthritis and bilateral lateral collateral ligament sprain), and a bilateral ankle disability (including psoriatic arthritis and osteoarthritis) is denied.,The Veteran's hypercholesterolemia and microscopic hematuria are not service-connected as they were preexisting conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial evaluations for service-connected PTSD, tinea versicolor, and right eye cataracts is denied. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which is the highest available rating under the applicable criteria. His tinea versicolor does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation as it affects less than 20% of his exposed body area without requiring systemic therapy. His right eye cataracts are currently evaluated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve) is granted a disability rating of 20 percent.,Service connection for dermatitis is denied.

The Board has found that a VA examination is needed to address the Veteran's claimed skin condition disability, including eczema on various body parts and psoriasis. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran withdrew all pending claims and appeals, including those for service connection for various conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic dermatitis but has remanded the issue of service connection for a stomach disorder due to exposure to burn pits during deployment in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's right pectoralis tear with right shoulder degenerative joint disease and rotator cuff strain is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 30 percent, as there is no evidence of ankylosis or other impairment.,The linear surgical scar in the right pectoral region measures 10 cm x 0.5 cm and does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7802 due to its small size and lack of pain or instability.,Diabetes mellitus Type II is rated at the minimum noncompensable rating, as it requires restricted diet and/or oral glycemic agent but no daily insulin injection or activity restriction.,Actinic keratosis with chloracne has not covered 20 to 40 percent of the entire body or exposed areas, nor required any systemic treatment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of confirmation of exposure to herbicide agents on the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk, and requests that ship logbooks be obtained.

The Veteran's severe acne (acne vulgaris) is considered to have been aggravated by his active-duty service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) was previously denied in a June 2018 rating decision. The AOJ failed to issue a supplemental claim rating decision in response to the September 2021 supplemental claim, leading to this remand.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as pseudofolliculitis barbae due to a lack of evidence showing current diagnoses or treatment.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his service-connected chloracne is being remanded due to an inadequate VA examination. The examiner did not provide sufficient detail about the severity of the condition, which affects superficial acne (comedones, papules, pustules) and less than 40% of the face and neck.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for dermatitis, tinea versicolor, and scalp folliculitis was denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for either dermatitis or tinea versicolor, nor did it meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating for scalp folliculitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been remanded due to the need for further examination and review of his case. The Board found that additional evidence was needed before a decision could be made on these issues.