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

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions and a higher disability rating for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and PTSD were denied. The claim for service connection for a skin condition was also denied. The claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury was remanded.

The Board restored the veteran's disability rating for bilateral tinea pedis to 60 percent, effective July 1, 2023.

Service connection for PTSD is granted. The claim for a rating of allergic contact dermatitis is remanded for further evaluation.

The veteran's service connection claims for right leg pain, left leg pain, tinea pedis, and residual status post right elbow surgery were granted.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for scarring alopecia and dermatitis was granted. The claim for a compensable rating for service-connected scarring alopecia was remanded.

The Board dismissed claims for higher ratings for right knee, L5 vertebra, and plantar fasciitis due to pending readjudication. It denied higher ratings for left upper extremity neuropathy and PTSD with alcohol use disorder but remanded the eczema claim and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board restored the veteran's 30% disability rating for eczema with lichenification, effective December 1, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, dermatitis, bronchial asthma, and peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities due to additional development being necessary. The issues are inextricably intertwined with each other.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU prior to July 28, 2016 is remanded due to the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities including fibromyalgia, unspecified sleep wake syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, tinnitus and dermatitis. The Board finds that he does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent disabling, effective from April 12, 2018. The Veteran's folliculitis with scarring of the scalp is not compensable.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for status post right little finger metacarpal chip fracture was denied. Service connection for hemorrhoids was granted. Other claims were either denied or remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating higher than 10% for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB). The decision was based on the lack of evidence showing characteristic lesions or systemic therapy required for a higher rating.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, initial compensable evaluation for PFB, and service connection for facial scarring due to errors in obtaining necessary records and examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating higher than 30% for PFB with scarring. The decision was based on evidence showing the condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's PTSD rating was increased to 70%. Other conditions were denied or remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for pseudofolliculitis barbae and rhinitis. Service connection was denied for several conditions, including neurological damage in both legs, IBS, GERD, cervical spine disability, migraines, plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, dry skin, erectile dysfunction, right knee disability, low back pain with arthritis and instability, and sinusitis. The appeals for left ankle disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and HIV were remanded.

The veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits was granted, with the effective date set to December 23, 2013.

The veteran's claims for left hip strain and bilateral foot tinea pedis were denied. The claims for erectile dysfunction and right knee tendinitis were remanded.

The veteran's claim for a 30 percent rating for acne vulgaris from July 11, 2021 has been granted. The decision is based on the finding that the veteran's acne did not pre-exist military service and the disability met the criteria for a 30 percent rating.