Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection of CFS, left heel pain, right heel pain, and right shoulder pain have been denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for ulcerative colitis has been granted with a 60% rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of pseudofolliculitis, hypertension, left wrist carpal and radiocarpal arthritis, and subluxation of the left thumb status-post carpometacarpal joint arthroplasty with tendon interposition have been REMANDED due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae before a decision was made.

The Veteran's service connection claims for other specified trauma or stressor related disorder, PTSD, dermatitis, and cyst removal scar are all granted. The Veteran has a current diagnosis of other specified trauma or stressor related disorder that is related to in-service stressors. Service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no current diagnosis meeting DSM-5 criteria. Service connection for dermatitis and cyst removal scar is denied due to lack of evidence of a current disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for tinea pedis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder), and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptoms.

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error and the Veteran's claim for service connection for dyshidrotic eczema must be remanded to obtain an adequate opinion regarding whether his condition is related to his service in Iraq.

The Board has granted service connection for tinea pedis, but the claims of bilateral knee disabilities and left ankle disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for gastritis and dermatitis eczema other than tinea pedis, finding no current disability in either condition.

The Board denied service connection for an enlarged prostate, a skin condition (papulosquamous dermatitis), and a peripheral nerve injury of the thumb and elbow due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any other relevant factors.

The Veteran's skin condition, diagnosed as eczema and prurigo nodularis, hypertension, and hiatal hernia with GERD are now granted. The Board found the evidence to be in equipoise regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent disability rating for service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae, finding that the condition affects less than 40 percent of the face and neck.

PTSD, insomnia, social adjustment disorder, somatic symptom disorder, agoraphobia, and severe anxiety are all remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's claims for PTSD, insomnia, social adjustment disorder, somatic symptom disorder, agoraphobia, and severe anxiety will be reconsidered after the VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is related to the Veteran's diagnosed obesity and his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinea pedis was found to affect less than five percent of his total body area and exposed areas, not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating. The knee conditions were remanded due to an inadequate pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of right shoulder disability is granted, and he is awarded a 10% rating for his psoriasis. The decision also grants the initial compensable evaluation for psoriasis.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, was dismissed as the claim was withdrawn during a hearing. The Veteran's eczema is granted with aggravation by service.,A compensable rating (10%) is granted for right foot scar due to pain.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hyperhidroses of feet and tinea pedis has been denied as the condition is not considered to be related to his military service due to a period of AWOL that lasted over 180 days.

The Veteran's initial claim for service-connected dermatophytosis tinea pedis (toenail fungus) was granted, but the rating assigned is zero percent. The Board has determined that additional development of the record is necessary due to outstanding treatment records and a need for another VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) as there was no evidence of a current disability or persistent symptoms during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for nonservice-connected pension and special monthly pension due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination.