Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, sleep apnea, and sensorineural hearing loss. The Board also denied his requests for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity disability.

The Board denied service connection for a left foot disability, left ankle arthritis, thick, painful toenails and hammer toes, and tinea unguium (onychomycosis) of the left great toenail. The Veteran's current conditions were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's skin disabilities, including dyshidrotic eczema and tinea versicolor, are currently rated at 10% since November 8, 2018. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a left knee disability and is granting a higher rating of 60% for his skin disabilities effective from November 8, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder, other than tinea pedis, tinea manum, and poikiloderma of civatte, to include as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation, chemical exposure, or sun exposure due to lack of evidence linking the condition to active military service.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor did not affect an area of at least 5 percent of the entire body or 5 percent of the exposed area and did not require systemic therapy during the past 12-month period. Therefore, he is not entitled to a compensable rating for his tinea versicolor.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for cystic acne of the face and head prior to February 3, 2013 is granted.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for OSA and left ear scar are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination opinions regarding the Veteran's newly diagnosed skin conditions and their relationship to his service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of prostate cancer, obstructive sleep apnea, and eczema due to the Veteran's withdrawal before a decision was made.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various conditions due to potential changes in the Veteran's character of discharge from his period of service. The appeal is not about a presumption, exposure basis, or new and material evidence.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits were initially denied due to his service-connected disabilities not resulting in an employment handicap. However, since the initial decision, he has been granted additional service connection for several conditions and there is evidence suggesting he may have an employment handicap now. The Board finds a remand necessary to conduct a functional capacity evaluation (FCE) to determine if he currently suffers from an employment handicap.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for chronic dermatitis with tinea pedis and undiagnosed condition prior to March 15, 2021 is denied as the evidence does not show that his skin condition affected more than 40 percent of his entire body or exposed areas, nor did it require constant systemic therapy.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total rating based on individual unemployability have been remanded due to the need for additional development. The current 10 percent ratings for right and left hallux valgus with hammer toe, as well as tinea unguium, are upheld.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae and a right shoulder disorder due to additional development being warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin condition and bilateral foot disability due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be service-connected.,The Veteran's allergies, skin disorder (dermatitis and seborrheic keratosis), hypertension, adult-onset diabetes, digestive disorder, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are not found to be service-connected.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is currently rated at 30 percent, effective February 13, 2012. The Board denied a higher rating as the condition does not affect more than 40 percent of his entire body or exposed areas.

The Board has determined that there is not substantial compliance with the remand directives and has therefore ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's skin disabilities, specifically seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis. The remand also includes obtaining VA treatment records from August 2020 to present.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left ankle disability and posttraumatic headaches, have led to his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has ordered further development of the employment history and requested information from SSA.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.