Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was rated at 20 percent prior to January 12, 2017 and increased to 40 percent from January 12, 2017 to November 1, 2018.,From November 1, 2018 onwards, the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is rated at 40 percent.

The Board granted service connection for a back disorder and reopened the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression. The remaining claims were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current skin disability, diagnosed as eczema of her neck and bilateral hands, arose in service and have been recurrent since then. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sun/skin sensitivity, seborrheic keratosis, dermatofibroma, lentigo, and folliculitis, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective August 20, 2019. The TDIU is granted on a schedular basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic skin disorder other than pseudofolliculitis barbae, to include vitiligo and post-inflammatory hypopigmentation, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical opinions on his exposure claims and examining him for any current skin disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 60 percent for palmar-plantar psoriasis and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities has been denied. The maximum schedular rating available (60%) is already assigned, and the Board finds that the symptoms are adequately addressed by this rating.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's fungal infection of the feet, finding that it did not affect at least 5 percent of his body and was consistently treated with topical antifungal medications.

The Veteran's current bilateral tinea pedis with onychomycosis is related to his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claim for a VA examiner opinion to determine if the Veteran's psoriasis is related to his service-connected lower back disability and coronary arteriosclerosis, specifically considering whether it was aggravated by these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea versicolor, finding that there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition and that any current condition did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of aggravation during active duty.

The Board has determined that additional attempts should be made to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records, as they are crucial for determining his eligibility for service connection. The appeal is remanded in order to address these missing records.

The Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder and type 2 diabetes, and the Board has granted this claim.,The Veteran's headaches are also secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder and hypertension. The Board has granted this claim as well.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the extent of the Veteran's facial scarring and which skin disorder (PFB or acne) his complaints, treatments, and facial scarring should be attributed to. The claim is now pending further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a skin disorder, including as due to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange), and for TDIU. The case will be returned to VA for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, eczema of the hands, and dizziness are all found to be related to service.,Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's spine disorder is rated at 60 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of ankylosis or other factors.,For his pruritis ani with tinea cruris, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as there are no findings of large or thrombotic hemorrhoids, persistent bleeding, or secondary anemia.

The Veteran's skin disabilities, including psoriasis, tinea cruris, eczema, generalized plaque psoriasis, and localized scalp psoriasis, are found to be related to his active service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has instructed the RO to consider an extraschedular rating for service-connected bilateral lower extremity neurodermatitis. The case is being returned to the RO for this purpose.