Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for psoriasis of the fingers and toenails, as well as psoriatic arthritis. The case was previously before the Board in May 2018 when it was also remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a mental health disorder manifesting as ADHD, a left knee disability, and dyshidrotic eczema.

The Board denied a higher rating for PFB from November 5, 2014 to November 26, 2018 and granted the maximum rating of 30% since November 27, 2018.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining opinions from medical experts on whether any of the Veteran's service-connected skin disability medications should be considered as systemic medications that like act like immunosuppressive drugs.

The Veteran's chronic bronchitis with history of pneumonia and COPD was rated as noncompensable prior to March 13, 2018. The Board found that the disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on FEV-1/FVC post-bronchodilator results.,The Veteran's tinea pedis was rated as zero percent (noncompensable) prior to March 13, 2018. The Board found that the disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on affected body areas or systemic therapy.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for dermatitis, psoriasis, and xerosis of the left foot as well as the claim for an initial compensable evaluation for tinea pedis of the left foot. The TDIU claim is also being referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they did not begin during active service or are otherwise related to in-service noise exposure.,PTSD is not service-connected as there is no credible evidence of a verified stressor event. The Veteran's reported incidents could not be corroborated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psoriasis and eczema are related to his service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder of the face or neck, including pseudofolliculitis barbae and eczematous dermatitis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to an in-service injury.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability (other than osteoporosis), joint and muscle pain, and skin disability to include alopecia and dermatitis. The Veteran's back disability is not considered proximately due to or aggravated by his previously service-connected sickle cell anemia.,Joint and muscle pain is considered a symptom of the Veteran’s previously service-connected sickle cell anemia.

Service connection for onychomycosis and eczema is granted.,Service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, osteoarthritis of the right index finger, and tinea pedis with onychomycosis have been granted. The claim for pseudofolliculitis barbae was denied.,Service connection has been established for these conditions based on direct evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for Fuchs' corneal dystrophy has been denied.,Service connection for left knee disability is denied, as there is no evidence of chronic left knee arthritis within the applicable presumptive period and continuity of symptomatology is not established.,Service connection for seborrheic dermatitis is remanded due to a resurgence of symptoms including hair loss.,Service connection for hair loss is also remanded.

The Board dismissed all appeals for service connection and increased ratings due to the appellant's death.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea versicolor, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the condition had its initial onset during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinea pedis of the bilateral feet and a right shoulder disability, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions were incurred during active military service. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not rated higher than noncompensable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis as his combined schedular rating is less than total and he has not demonstrated that his service-connected conditions alone are severe enough to warrant TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for type II diabetes mellitus and chloracne due to incomplete VA examinations, conflicting mailing addresses, and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran will need to provide his current address and undergo new VA examinations.

The Board has found that remand is warranted for an examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and associated complications, including onychomycosis and stasis dermatitis. The earlier effective date claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is also remanded due to a need to address the Veteran's allegation regarding clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the assignment of an effective date of September 13, 2007.