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

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided were inadequate for rating purposes, particularly due to a lack of consideration of evidence from active periods of the Veteran's conditions. The claims are therefore being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for dermatitis with an initial 10 percent disability rating effective from August 10, 2022. The Veteran's claim of pruritus of the feet is also granted as part of this decision.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor has required systemic therapy including corticosteroids for a total duration of 6 weeks or more, but not constantly, over the past 12-month period. The Board granted a rating of 30 percent for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding whether the service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety, depression, and insomnia aggravated the Veteran's eczema. The Veteran is seeking service connection for eczema as secondary to his service-connected adjustment disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected PFB is granted an initial 10 percent disability rating, as the condition covers less than 5% of his total body area and exposed areas without requiring any systemic therapy.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for dyshidrotic eczema of the hands and feet due to a failure to attend scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, hair loss, penile disability, hypertension, heart disability, knee disabilities, and wrist disabilities. The appeals were remanded for further action on some issues.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of acne, which is currently rated as 0 percent disabling, has been denied. The evidence shows that the Veteran's acne is superficial and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran seeks an initial compensable rating for Schamberg's dermatitis. The RO decision did not consider VA or community care-related records, which may contain relevant information.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the rating for PFB from 60 percent to zero percent was improper and reinstated the previous 60 percent rating effective July 15, 2021.

The Veteran's tinea pedis and callus were rated noncompensable under the old rating criteria, as they did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on their impact on his body or exposed areas.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for acne vulgaris was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for deep acne (deep inflamed nodules and pus-filled cysts) affecting less than 40 percent of the face and neck, or deep acne other than on the face and neck.

The Veteran's eczema, which required systemic therapy (PUVA) for a total duration of 6 weeks or more but not constantly over the past 12 months, is now rated at 30 percent effective November 13, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinea pedis with onychomycosis is dismissed. The Board grants the Veteran's claim for service connection for left hamstring tendinopathy, but denies his claims for higher ratings for gastritis with GERD and a colon polyp, as well as an initial rating of 10 percent or higher for hypertension.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disability, acne, pseudofolliculitis barbae, knee disabilities, hip disabilities, and sinusitis. The reasons for remand include the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, wrist disability, lower back disability, shin splints, foot disability (including tinea pedis), and hip disability are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is presumed competent to report his symptoms and continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence for the Veteran's claims of service connection for pseudofolliculitis, bilateral flat feet, and emphysema. As a result, these claims are being remanded to allow for further review.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of cystic acne as it was not a valid AMA appeal and no SOC or SSOC had been issued.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition, chronic fatigue syndrome, rhinitis, and acne rosacea due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current conditions are not supported by the medical records provided during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of coronary artery disease was granted with an effective date of September 22, 2017.,The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) was also granted with the same effective date of September 22, 2017.