Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for dermatitis effective February 25, 2012. The Veteran's condition required systematic therapy (oral antihistamine and topical corticosteroid) for six weeks or more within the year prior to his claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to lack of VA examinations and need for updated treatment records. The Veteran's left knee, eczema, acquired psychiatric disability (depression), low back/tailbone disability, and headache disability are all being reviewed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability to include psoriasis and skin irritation is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a spinal disorder characterized by pain of the neck and back is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral bunions is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet is remanded.

The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, tinnitus, painful scar, residual muscle injury from shell fragment wound, eczema, malaria, healed muscle damage, scar, and hearing loss. The housebound claim is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a nerve condition of the chest, arms, and back, chloracne, and epilepsy were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen any of these claims.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of audiometric findings meeting VA criteria for hearing loss. Service connection for tinnitus was denied based on a one-year presumption and continuity of symptomatology since service.,Service connection for a nerve condition of the chest, arms, and back and chloracne were denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions in service or related to service.,Service connection for epilepsy was denied due to lack of direct service connection based on in-service noise exposure, herbicide exposure, or continuity of symptomatology. Presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and for an increased rating for her eczema (claimed as a skin disability) are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae (shaving bumps) and bilateral pes planus, but granted service connection for mass on aortic valve. The claim of increased rating for PTSD was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to obtain medical records and clarify certain aspects of his claims. The specific issues are related to erectile dysfunction, headaches and migraines, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and additional medical records. The issues of service connection for onychomycosis, bilateral pes planus, left hip labral tear with limitation of flexion, left hip labral tear with limitation of extension, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), folliculitis decalvans, and scarring alopecia, scalp scar, bilateral plantar fasciitis, hypertension, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), and left knee PFPS are all remanded.

An initial 10 percent rating for hypertension prior to October 21, 2019 is granted.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for hypertension from October 21, 2019 is denied. The Veteran's PFB claim has been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for eligibility for the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his current level of impairment with regard to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of PTSD was denied, as the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.,The Veteran's appeal for TDIU was also denied, as his service-connected disabilities alone did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, right eye diabetic retinopathy, prostatitis with urethritis, bilateral hearing loss, tinea pedis with diabetic dermopathy, and tinea cruris has been granted. Effective dates have not yet been determined for these conditions.

The Board denied a rating higher than 30 percent for the Veteran's skin disorder, tinea pedis and tinea unguium. The condition affects less than 5% of the entire body or exposed areas, and does not require constant or near-constant systemic therapy.

The Board denied service connection for psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis of the right hand, and psoriatic arthritis of the left hand. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's GERD symptoms have met the criteria for a 60 percent disability rating. The issue of an initial compensable disability evaluation for his ingrown toenail and foot condition is remanded due to lack of medical opinion regarding systemic effects of topical treatments.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for acne rosacea, specifically his in-service exposure to nuclear atmospheric radiation. The VA examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion on whether sun exposure during service may be causally connected to the Veteran's acne rosacea.

The Veteran's autoimmune symptoms are fully encompassed by her service-connected allergic dermatitis, and a separate claim for an autoimmune disease is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded for additional examinations. The skin condition claim is related to in-service exposure, while the ankle disability claim requires further evidence regarding its onset.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder is dismissed. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.