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

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae as there is no current diagnosis of this condition and insufficient evidence to establish an in-service incurrence or continuous symptoms since service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various ankle, elbow, foot, knee, and back disabilities. The appeals were dismissed due to untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement (VA Form 10182).

Service connection for PFB is granted. Service connection for dizziness, hypertension (secondary to PTSD), left foot disability (secondary to lumbar spine disability), right foot disability (secondary to lumbar spine disability), and left shoulder disability (secondary to PTSD) are remanded.

The appeal for service connection for allergic rhinitis is dismissed. Service connection for a skin condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for his service-connected tinea versicolor is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error involving missing VA medical treatment records and the need for another VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea corporis was granted with an effective date of November 21, 2021. Since the Veteran was discharged from active duty on that same day, his appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is denied due to the lack of characteristic lesions involving at least 5 percent of his entire body or exposed areas.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED), depression, and anxiety are remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine their etiology.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection awards of PTSD, degenerative arthritis of the spine with lumbosacral strain, tension headaches, status-post left inguinal herniorrhaphy, costochondritis, and PFB and bilateral paronychia.

The Veteran's rating for dermatitis with xerosis cutis and discoid lupus erythematosus was reduced from 60 percent to 10 percent. The appeal is granted, restoring the 60 percent rating effective January 1, 2023.

The claims for acne, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and ankle/knee disabilities are being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ must provide an adequate explanation for separating the Veteran's acne and pseudofolliculitis barbae disabilities and obtain a new VA medical opinion on the etiology of his right hip, ankle, and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied. The Board found that the current disability neither occurred in nor was caused by service.,A separate 10 percent rating for left knee limitation of flexion is granted, but a rating above 10 percent for limitation of extension is denied.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is rated at 30 percent, which does not meet his claim for an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to errors in notice and duty to assist.

The Veteran's service connection claims for eczema and high blood pressure, both secondary to PTSD with alcohol use disorder, have been denied. The claim for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The claim for a neck condition remains unresolved as it has not yet been determined if there is a current diagnosis or its relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for various conditions have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine DDD, tinnitus, eczema, and left-hand arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 29, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, headache, and skin disorders due to outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left shin splints, right shin splints, left ankle sprain, right ankle sprain, onychomycosis (right foot), onychomycosis (left foot), and right knee condition.

The Board has dismissed the issue of entitlement to service connection for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) as it was granted in a March 2023 rating decision with an effective date of August 23, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for psoriatic arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected psoriasis. However, it denied an increased rating in excess of 60 percent for his psoriasis.