Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes and multiple noncompensable disabilities has been withdrawn. The Board also finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability manifested by difficulty breathing, hypertension, or chloracne.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule VA examinations for his kidney condition, skin disability, and rectal injury. The AOJ will then consider whether service connection should be granted or denied for these conditions.

The Veteran's skin disability, which included acne keloidalis nuchae and mycoses fungoides, required constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as corticosteroids from August 16, 2010 through January 9, 2013. The Board granted a rating of 60 percent for this period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae had its onset in service and is granted service connection for this condition. The claims of service connection for left foot and right foot conditions are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's skin conditions, including eczema and xerosis, were found to have been present since service. The Board granted service connection for these conditions and assigned an initial disability rating of 30 percent effective June 7, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin disability of the head is not related to his active duty service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The VA examiner concluded it is unlikely the current condition began during or was caused by his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, type II with related disabilities is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches are rated at a maximum of 50 percent since September 11, 2017, due to very frequent, completely prostrating, and prolonged attacks that have caused severe economic inadaptability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability (psoriasis) and a right foot disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for pseudofolliculitis barbae and distal right tibia and fibular fracture are being remanded to the AOJ for additional development.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal of the denial of service connection for a low back disability and the initial ratings assigned for PTSD with anxiety and depressive symptoms, status post traumatic brain injury; folliculitis with early component of hidradenitis suppurativa of the axilla and groin; and status post orbital blowout fracture.

The Board found that the Veteran's character of discharge from service for the period prior to February 2, 1991 was not a bar to VA benefits. However, his subsequent service during and after this period is considered dishonorable, thus barring him from receiving VA compensation benefits for any diseases or injuries incurred or aggravated during these periods.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial evaluation for his scar status post ventral hernia repair was granted. The claims for service connection for left leg disability and pseudofolliculitis barbae are pending, with the latter requiring further development.

The Veteran's PTSD, hepatitis C, and tinea pedis were all granted service connection. The Veteran was awarded a rating of 30 percent for PTSD, 20 percent for hepatitis C, and no compensation for the bilateral feet condition.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae was rated at 30 percent prior to January 24, 2017. Effective January 24, 2017, the rating for this condition has been increased to 60 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for eczema from March 1, 2011 to January 7, 2014 was denied. The Board found that the condition did not meet the criteria for a non-compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7806.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent, rendering moot the claim for a TDIU. Service connection was granted for fibromyalgia as a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected dermatitis does not warrant an initial rating in excess of 10 percent as it affects less than 20% of his entire body or exposed areas, and no systemic therapy is required.

The Veteran's heart disease, sleep apnea, skin diseases, gastrointestinal disease, and nerve damage are all found to be related to his service-connected PTSD and/or hypertension. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.