Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's heart disability was not incurred or aggravated by service and is not presumed to have been incurred therein. The Veteran does not have a current heart disability.,The Veteran has tinea pedis that affects less than 5 percent of a non-exposed area, but does not require intermittent systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinea pedis and onychomycosis of both feet are attributable to service, with no presumptive exposure basis. The VA examiners acknowledged a risk factor for these conditions (wearing closed-toed shoes in moist environments), but discounted this due to lack of treatment and inconsistent nail involvement.

The Board has granted the Veteran's motion to revise or reverse the June 1984 and March 1985 rating decisions on the grounds of clear and unmistakable error. The effective date for the grant of service connection for cystic acne is set at January 23, 1985.

The Veteran's right arm lymphedema is found to be causally related to his service-connected right elbow osteoarthritis, and the claim for service connection is granted. The issue of a higher initial rating for right elbow osteoarthritis remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for BPH was denied as there is no evidence of a link between the condition and his military service.,For left foot dermatitis, the Veteran has not provided any symptoms or treatment related to this condition during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant was denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected contact dermatitis and tinea pedis have been rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as the disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to unclear employment status and the need for a VA examination to assess his ability to secure or follow gainful employment.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for residuals of pseudofolliculitis barbae is granted.,Service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder, residuals of a fractured left great toe, residuals of a fractured right thumb, and residuals of an injured left hamstring are denied.,Service connection for a neck disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to outstanding medical records and need for a comprehensive examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, dysthymic disorder (including dysthymia), and skin rash were previously denied in September 2009, September 2001, and September 2009 respectively. The new evidence submitted does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for substance abuse was found to be precluded as a matter of law due to his own willful misconduct.

The Veteran's skin disorders of the right and left feet are found to be caused by his service-connected cold weather injuries, resulting in secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when evaluated in association with his educational attainment and occupational experience, precluded all forms of substantially gainful employment beginning December 1, 2012. Effective December 1, 2012, but not earlier, the criteria are met for the award of TDIU.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for increased disability evaluation for chloracne, initial disability evaluation for lumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease, service connection for soft tissue sarcoma, service connection for locked jaw due to broken right jawbone, and entitlement to TDIU prior to November 1, 2013.

The Veteran's eczema has been rated at 10 percent since the grant of service connection in February 2011. The current evidence does not show that the condition affects more than 20% of the entire body or exposed areas, and no systemic therapy is required for a total duration of six weeks or more during the past 12-month period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for psoriasis or service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, hyposmia as a residual of oral surgery, and headache condition. Service connection is also granted for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), eczema of the bilateral lower extremities, and residuals of oral surgery. The Veteran's current diagnoses are found to be related to his service in Southwest Asia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for scars on the retina, dermatitis of the groin, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision also granted an initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service-connected skin conditions, folliculitis and intertrigo. The case will be returned to the Board for further consideration.