Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2025

The Board denied increased ratings for several conditions, granted a 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy and an effective date of August 10, 2023, for the left elbow impairment of supination and pronation.

The appeal for service connection for tinnitus was dismissed as it has been granted in a separate decision. The claim for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for facial scars associated with pseudofolliculitis barbae was denied.

The appeal for service connection for psoriatic arthritis, a back disability, and a migraine disability was dismissed as untimely filed. The claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for scarring from psoriasis and the claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for psoriasis with residual scars were denied.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for migraines and denied the claim for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for eczema of the hands, a psychiatric disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder were remanded for further development.

The Board denied a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae as the Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the condition and his military service.

The Board denied a compensable rating for service-connected eczema and remanded the claim for service connection for chronic urticaria.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including prostate disability (BPH), nummular eczema, nephrolithiasis, neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities, and pseudophakia as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, due to a lack of evidence supporting a causal relationship between the disabilities and the Veteran's active service, including herbicide agent exposure.

The Board granted service connection for residual scarring left shoulder, denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and anxiety and depression, and remanded the claims for lumbosacral strain, right knee strain, contact dermatitis, and unspecified abdominal pain.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, to include residuals of myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease, and denied a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae. The Board also denied a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 5, 2023, and a rating in excess of 30 percent from June 5, 2023, for scars, neck and left cheek, associated with pseudofolliculitis barbae. However, the Board granted service connection for a left second digit scar with pain.

The appeal for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver splenomegaly was withdrawn by the Veteran, and the claims for dermatitis (severe rash) and sleep apnea (OSA), including as secondary to service-connected PTSD and hypertension, were remanded.

The appeal for an initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae was dismissed due to a prohibited concurrent election of review options.

The Board granted service connection for folliculitis and denied the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for rectal disability, specifically pruritus ani, and for service connection for vision loss. Migraine headaches, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and sleep disturbance were remanded.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of April 28, 2021, for the award of service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity diabetic neuropathies.

The Board granted an effective date of October 29, 2016, for the award of a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder with panic disorder but denied earlier effective dates and service connection for other conditions.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for a skin disability (claimed as tinea pedis) and a lumbar spine disability, as the Veteran's reports about in-service injuries and symptoms raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claims.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and denied increased ratings for bronchitis, bilateral hearing loss, and an initial compensable rating for dermatitis.

The claim for service connection for a left knee condition (to include patellofemoral syndrome and DJD) is remanded for readjudication, as new and relevant evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as other claims, finding that the evidence did not support entitlement to these benefits.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, allergic rhinitis, bilateral foot tinea capitis, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, and left hand osteoarthritis. The claim for diabetes mellitus was remanded.