Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder strain, lumbosacral strain, right knee disability (including right knee strain, degenerative arthritis, and medial compartment narrowing), and left knee strain were all granted service connection. The Veteran's clavicular pain was denied as there is no current diagnosis.,Acne vulgaris was also granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The remaining issues are related to back injury residuals, COPD, erectile dysfunction, chloracne, skin cancer, and neuropathies of the hands and extremities.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the severity of the Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae, whether he has an additional disability due to VA treatment in 2010, and the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, hip, great toe, cervical spine, hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities. The Board also requires a new examination for these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including low back strain and migraine headaches, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted his application for total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of performing his activities of daily living and require regular aid and assistance to protect him from hazards.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities is dismissed. The appeal of his claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and chest pain due to undiagnosed illness are granted.

The Board denied service connection for seborrheic dermatitis, a compensable rating for postoperative tonsillitis and pharyngitis, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of a fracture of the right thumb with traumatic arthritis and limitation of motion. The Veteran's anxiety disorder was also denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's surviving spouse was granted SMC at the (l) level based on his need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, with all reasonable doubts resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected pemphigus with eczema is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 60 percent. The Board has determined that he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his disability, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for acne due to burn pit exposure, finding the claim was not new and material.

The Board denied service connection for acne due to burn pit exposure, finding no direct evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as he does not have a single disability rated at 60 percent or more, nor do his service-connected disabilities bring the combined rating to 70 percent or more.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor is being remanded for a VA skin examination to determine the current severity of his condition and whether it meets the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of the 70 percent rating for service-connected PTSD is denied as it was not factually ascertainable prior to August 15, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorders, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for acne due to burn pit exposure, finding no direct evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of more than 30 percent since March 28, 1997, for persistent depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder is remanded. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for acne and PTSD have been granted, while the claim for residuals of circumcision remains denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Board has vacated the June 1, 2018 denial of service connection for various conditions and initial ratings. The Veteran's claims are now considered granted.