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

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) due to a duty-to-assist error in previous medical opinions and the need for an addendum opinion from a qualified VA examiner.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine is denied as there is no evidence that it is related to his military service.,A rating of 30 percent, but no higher, for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) prior to February 1, 2021, is granted. The Veteran's PFB was treated with systemic therapy including corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive drugs.

The Veteran's TBI has rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, requiring hospitalization or nursing home care if not provided by his spouse. The Board granted a higher level of SMC(t) for the residuals of his TBI.

The Veteran's scars on the head due to pseudofolliculitis barbae are rated at 50 percent, which is more than the initially assigned 30 percent rating. The Board found that the evidence of record supports this increased evaluation based on the presence of five characteristics of disfigurement.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for PFB was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction was also denied, with the Board finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to the condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinea pedis and tinea unguium is being remanded due to insufficient examination findings. The VA examiner did not provide the percentage of affected skin area.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance on and after February 18, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation higher than 30 percent for atopic dermatitis of the inner ears, actinic keratosis, rosacea, and squamous cell carcinoma of the face is being remanded due to incomplete private treatment records from Valley Dermatology.

The Veteran withdrew all his claims on appeal, including those for increased ratings and service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right hip disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and/or major depressive disorder), and a skin disability have been remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board found that the Veteran has asserted continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board denied a compensable rating for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) as the Veteran's symptoms and characteristics of disfigurement did not meet the criteria for any higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 7813 or 7800.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and a skin disability, including psoriasis. The evidence did not support current diagnoses or functional impairment.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, hypertension associated with herbicide agent exposure, bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis, and vasectomy scar residuals have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, prostate disability, skin disabilities, right ankle disability, esophageal disability, hemorrhoids, and left eye disability are being remanded.,The Veteran's claims for recurrent lumbar spine disability (including degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis), recurrent right knee disability (including osteoarthritis), recurrent prostate disability (including benign prostate hyperplasia), recurrent skin disability (including tinea versicolor, tinea corporis, tinea cruris, and eczema), recurrent right ankle disability (including cellulitis), recurrent esophageal disability (GERD), hemorrhoids, and acquired left eye disability (including corneal abrasion and cataract) are being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for dermatitis is remanded due to new and relevant evidence having been received. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of dermatitis, but does not qualify for the Agent Orange presumption as his disease did not manifest within one year of exposure. However, he may still establish service connection with proof of actual direct causation.

The Veteran was granted a disability rating of 30 percent for tinea pedis with onychomycosis from October 22, 2018. The effective date for this increased rating is October 22, 2018.

The Board has found that the RO's adjudication of the claims without obtaining VA examinations is a pre-decisional duty to assist error and requires remanding for further action, including scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection of left shoulder disability as it was granted in a previous decision. The claims for skin and migraine headaches are remanded due to inadequate pre-decisional duty to assist.

The Veteran's PFB was evaluated as noncompensable due to the lack of more than topical therapy required over the past 12-month period and at least one of the following: characteristic lesions involving less than 5 percent of the entire body affected; or characteristic lesions involving less than 5 percent of exposed areas affected.