Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for all the claimed conditions as there was no evidence of a current disability or that any of the claimed disabilities were related to active duty.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include generalized anxiety disorder, and left ear hearing loss. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation of service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae as the evidence did not show characteristic lesions involving at least 5 percent, but less than 20 percent, of the entire body affected or exposed areas.

The Board remands all claims for service connection and a compensable disability rating due to the failure of the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) to properly obtain relevant private medical records prior to making a decision on appeal.

The Veteran was granted a 100 percent rating for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) from January 22, 2016, to October 31, 2017, and a noncompensable rating from November 1, 2017. The Veteran's earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for hemorrhoids, anal fissures, pruritus ani, skin disability, and eye disability were also granted.

The appeal was dismissed due to an impermissible concurrent election of review options.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae as the evidence showed that the condition was manifested by visible characteristic lesions covering less than 5 percent of the total body area and exposed areas, with no systemic treatment other than topical therapy required.

The Board remands the claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for atopic dermatitis to obtain additional information regarding the use of systemic therapy during the period on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating and service connection for various skin disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating or establish a link between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for hypertension and remanded claims for service connection for bilateral feet onychomycosis, bilateral knee iliotibial band syndrome, and sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae, while remanding the claims for a lumbar disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder.

The Board granted eligibility for the direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in February 2024 and May 2024 Rating Decisions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance and an earlier effective date for service connection of schizoaffective disorder.

The Board granted service connection for low back pain and right hip pain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, a 30 percent rating for migraine headaches from January 22, 2023, but denied increased ratings for dermatitis and allergic rhinitis.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, a cervical spine disability, and a lumbar spine disability. The claims for a thoracic spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral tinea pedis, an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and residuals of buttocks surgery were denied.

The appeal of a proposal to sever service connection for eczema and bilateral shin splints was dismissed because the proposed severance is not a final determination on which an appeal may be initiated.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and denied increased ratings for various disabilities including back, lower extremity radiculopathy, knee, facial scar, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board granted service connection for peptic ulcer disease and pelvic congestion syndrome, and assigned initial ratings of 70%, 30%, 60%, 30%, 40%, and 10% for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), dermatitis, migraines, lumbosacral strain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy respectively. The Board remanded the claim of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for costochondritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded several other claims.

The Board granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, erectile dysfunction, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and right-hand and left-hand carpal tunnel syndrome. Service connection was denied for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and initial ratings were denied for migraines, right knee strain, and hypothyroidism.