Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his right foot disorder, bullous emphysema, COPD, and eczema.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations on tinea pedis and post-surgical scarring have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn his appeals.,The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations on bilateral hallux valgus to include on an extraschedular basis have been remanded due to possible worsening of symptoms since the last VA examination in April 2012.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for headaches, including as secondary to service-connected tinnitus, has been remanded. The examiner is asked to determine if the Veteran’s headaches are related to his service-connected tinnitus and whether they have been aggravated by it.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression) has been remanded. The examiner is asked to determine if the Veteran experienced military sexual trauma during service and if he currently suffers from PTSD or any other psychiatric disability as a result of that stressor.,The Veteran's appeal for TDIU has been remanded due to possible worsening of symptoms since the last VA examination in April 2012.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran served within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of the Republic of Vietnam while aboard the USS Savage. The VA will need to determine this and obtain any relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches is denied, and the issue of increased rating for acne on the back area is remanded.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is granted service connection, but his bilateral elbow disability and sinus disability are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, low back strain, cervical strain, right ankle strain, tinnitus, eczema, and headaches, render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension, chronic bronchitis, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, colonic polyps, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gout, hypothyroidism, sleep apnea, dermatophytosis of toe nails, and tinea pedis are being remanded for further development as they may be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of the feet and hands, knees, shoulders, chloracne, and diabetes mellitus type II (DM2), were all denied. The Board found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate any of these claims.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected eczema, effective from the date of his original claim in November 2007. The condition is characterized by intermittent systemic therapy involving topical corticosteroids.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for atopic dermatitis, left tennis elbow, and left eye condition (condition of the cornea) were granted with effective dates prior to October 18, 2012.,Service connection was denied for fibromyalgia, low back pain, arthritis also claimed as joint pain (cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, bilateral knee and bilateral ankles), and respiratory problems and asthma.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and character of discharge. The main issue is whether the Veteran’s bad conduct discharge for his second period of service from August 2, 1989 to October 12, 1994 constitutes a bar to VA benefits.

The Veteran's rating for atopic eczema with seborrheic dermatitis was reduced from 60 percent to noncompensable effective November 1, 2015. The reduction was upheld as the condition improved and no longer met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the remand directives and has therefore ordered a new VA examination for the Veteran's dry skin, scars, and dermatitis claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded as the issues involve reopened claims.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for a psychiatric disability, characterized as major depressive disorder, is denied.,The Veteran's initial compensable rating for a skin disability, characterized as acne keloidalis, is denied.,Service connection for an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness (MUCMI) claimed as essential tremor is granted.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a ratable disability involving either ear.,Service connection for tinnitus is also denied because the evidence does not support its onset during or within one year after his military service.

The claim for service connection for atrial fibrillation has been reopened, but the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of this condition.,The claims for bilateral hand and foot disorders are denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities.,Service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae and right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied due to lack of diagnosed conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for compensable rating for eczema, service connection for a left knee disability, and service connection for a right knee disability due to the appellant's withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for sinus problems is granted. The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection for a skin disability, other than tinea versicolor; sleep apnea; and chronic sinusitis due to lack of nexus evidence.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions and disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a hearing before the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ).