Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the issue of whether the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected skin disorder due to conflicting information and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's skin cancer of the left shoulder and back, as well as his psoriasis. The decision is based on direct evidence linking these conditions to exposure to jet fuel during military service.

The Veteran's service connection for hypertension is granted, as it was first diagnosed during active duty.,Service connection for CAD is also granted, with the Board noting that the hypertension likely aggravated this condition.

The Veteran's hyperhidrosis and epicondylitis were found to not warrant ratings in excess of the current assigned ratings, while his TDIU claim was granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus and TDIU prior to June 4, 2015. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include bilateral pes planus, glaucoma, GERD, right ankle sprain, scar, cervical spine strain degenerative disc, bilateral shin splints, asthma, and tinea pedis.

The Veteran's appeal of higher initial disability ratings for bilateral pes planus is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal at a Board hearing.,The Veteran’s claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), hypertension, cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure (claimed as hypertensive heart disease), tinea pedis of the right foot, tinea pedis of the left foot, obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to GERD/gastritis), a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD/gastritis, a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right knee are remanded.,The Veteran's appeal of higher initial disability ratings for bilateral pes planus is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal at a Board hearing.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for onychomycosis and tinea pedis (bilateral feet) and an increased rating for a lumbar spine disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, tinea pedis, and right knee disability is denied as the conditions are not etiologically related to his period of active duty from February 1950 to April 1957.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor, affecting 20 to 40 percent of exposed body area, is granted a 30 percent initial rating from August 1, 2012. Other service connection claims are denied.

The Veteran's PFB is not rated higher than noncompensable, as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the current VA skin disability rating criteria.,An initial 30 percent rating has been granted for seasonal allergies due to at least one nasal polyp being present.

The Veteran's PTSD is not shown to have manifested the type, extent and severity of symptoms demonstrating 'total occupational and social impairment' within the meaning of the rating schedule at any point during the pendency of this appeal.,The Veteran’s tinea versicolor does not require systemic therapy. The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms necessary for evaluating the skin disability under the rating criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea versicolor, finding that it preexisted his active duty and was not permanently aggravated by service.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's tinea pedis, finding that it does not meet the criteria for higher ratings under either version of the applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for nummular eczema with keratosis pilaris and left knee patellofemoral syndrome with iliotibial band syndrome are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding treatment methods and examination of the knees.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct link between his current condition and his military service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted, and the attorney fees for this portion of the case are reduced to half due to his limited involvement.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral pes planus, left sensory neuropathy of the sural nerve, degenerative arthritis of the spine, left ankle sprain, and pseudofolliculitis) preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation for the period prior to October 19, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily his acquired psychiatric disorder and lower back disability, render him unemployable. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s current bilateral hearing loss is related to acoustic trauma experienced during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), deviated septum, right and left foot disorder, including pes planus, and erectile dysfunction with penis deformity have been granted. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen these claims.