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

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot issue a decision on the merits of these claims as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's PFB was manifested by characteristic lesions involving less than 5 percent of the entire body affected; or characteristic lesions involving less than 5 percent of exposed areas affected. The criteria for entitlement to a compensable disability rating for PFB have not been met.

The Veteran's service-connected acne keloidalis and painful scar have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.,Specifically, the Veteran's acne keloidalis has only two characteristics of disfigurement, which do not warrant an increased rating. His painful scar is rated at 10 percent due to having one or two unstable and/or painful scars.

The Board has remanded the claims for a compensable rating for tinea unguium (onychomycosis) of the bilateral big toenails and bilateral fifth toenails, service connection for left ruptured ear drum scar tissue, and service connection for left ear hearing loss due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's claims will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right thumb crush injury is now rated at 10 percent, while his bilateral pes planus and pseudofolliculitis barbae remain noncompensable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for PFB is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss. The claims of service connection for anemia, dermatitis, and right knee condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is for an increased disability rating for her service-connected folliculitis decalvans with dissecting scalp cellulitis. The VA examination was inadequate, and the Board has ordered a new examination to determine the current severity of the condition.

The Veteran's use of hydroquinone cream for acne, which is not service-connected, was denied a clothing allowance because the medication does not treat a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between the Veteran's in-service conditions and his subsequent brain cancer.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea cruris was denied. The claim for a compensable rating for vertigo was granted.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability due to potential confusion regarding his current diagnoses and their relationship to his time in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for severe peripheral neuropathy and pseudofolliculitis barbae have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Veteran's lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities are remanded due to a lack of adequate opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the earlier effective date claims for major depressive disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, mitral regurgitation, and tinea corporis.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for folliculitis and alopecia universalis, totalis were denied.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 60 percent for folliculitis was remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae and sinusitis have been denied due to lack of current disability. The right wrist condition and low back condition are remanded as the VA examinations were inadequate.,Service connection cannot be granted for pseudofolliculitis barbae or sinusitis because there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran is granted TDIU and SMC from November 20, 2020 due to his service-connected Major Depressive Disorder. The effective date for these benefits is set as of the date he filed his VA Form 21-8940 application.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The right ankle disorder claim was remanded, and the sleep apnea and pseudofolliculitis claims were denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinea unguium, tinea cruris, and chronic fatigue syndrome (claimed as fatigue) due to a lack of competent evidence of current disabilities. The March 2021 VA examinations found no current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is rated at 50% effective July 1, 2021. The Veteran's tinea pedis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for PFB and bilateral hearing loss from June 24, 2020 to December 13, 2021 is denied. The claim for a higher than 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss from December 14, 2021 is also denied.