Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims, including those related to migraines, tinea versicolor, right thumb disability, keratitis, and a calf muscle injury.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety and sleep disturbance is rated at 70 percent, the maximum available. The GERD and IBS are rated at 30 percent. The right foot skin disability has been restored to a 10 percent rating, while the left foot skin disability remains at a 10 percent rating. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was incurred in service and aggravated by his military duties. The Board finds that the evidence supports a grant of service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability is not service connected as there is no current diagnosis and the VA examiner found it less likely than not related to service.,The Veteran's left knee disability is not service connected due to lack of a nexus between his current condition and service. The VA examiner opined that the current condition was less likely than not incurred during service.

The Veteran's bilateral leg disorder, including venous insufficiency and stasis dermatitis, is not related to her military service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and various lower extremity conditions are all granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has established a current disability, in-service noise exposure, and continuity of symptoms.

The Board denied the appellant's petition to reopen her claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acne vulgaris and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been withdrawn. The remaining issues of service connection are addressed in the remand portion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, dermatitis (claimed as skin rash due to herbicide exposure), residuals of left eye strabismus surgery, and both right and left knee osteoarthritis. The appeals were decided on a direct basis without any presumption or secondary theory.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his skin disability was denied. He is currently in receipt of the highest schedular rating allowable based on his skin disability.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor was initially rated at 10 percent prior to April 23, 2008. Following a VA examination in January 2010 that indicated the condition had worsened and covered approximately 20% of his body with 15% exposed areas, he was granted a rating of 30 percent effective from April 23, 2008.

The Board found that the Veteran's skin disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, including as due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected chronic dermatitis of the bilateral hands and feet is being remanded due to outstanding private medical records concerning UVB phototherapy treatment. The AOJ must obtain these records, notify the Veteran of their request, and provide an opportunity for him to respond.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to provide an updated VA examination and obtain any private treatment records. The earlier effective date issue is intertwined with the initial rating issue.

The Veteran's eczema was rated at 0 percent from April 13, 2010 to March 26, 2014 and at 10 percent from March 26, 2014 to October 29, 2014. The maximum schedular disability rating of 60 percent was granted for eczema as of October 29, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriasis, as secondary to his service-connected conditions or due to an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness, is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for PTSD, tinea unguium, and special monthly compensation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disability, and skin disability of the feet are found to be service-connected. The right ankle disability and ischemic heart disease claims were not addressed due to lack of current disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chloracne was denied. The claims for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are pending.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a skin condition should be remanded due to incomplete records and need for an adequate VA examination.