Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Board remands the claims for a compensable evaluation of bilateral foot corns and entitlement to a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to inadequate medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of December 27, 2021, and no earlier, for the award of service connection for unspecified dermatitis was granted. The initial rating in excess of 10 percent for unspecified dermatitis was denied.

The Board granted service connection for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disabilities, bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, digestive disabilities including irritable bowel syndrome with abdominal pain and nausea, pelvic organ disabilities, iron deficiency anemia, and genital herpes. Service connection was denied for acne, tendonitis, fibromyalgia, painful joints, left shin splints, right shin splints, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, respiratory infection, GERD, PTSD, anxiety condition, manic-depressive reaction, and psychiatric disorder other than unspecified depressive disorder with symptoms of suicidal ideation. An initial 50% rating was granted for the service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.

The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea was dismissed due to a procedural defect in the notice of disagreement submitted by the Veteran.

The Board remands the claims for an initial compensable disability rating and a higher disability rating for tinea pedis with onychomycosis due to an error by the AOJ in satisfying a regulatory duty.

The Board remands the matter for a new examination to address the Veteran's service-connected bilateral tinea pedis/athlete's foot, specifically regarding systemic treatment and adequacy of previous examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a finding of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as the evidence did not establish that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and initial disability ratings due to a duty to assist error, as well as entitlement to TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied an initial compensable evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae, while remanding the claim for a bilateral foot condition.

The Board denied service connection for left foot pain, right foot pain, eczema, and migraines as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, left hand acne, rhinitis, headaches, tinnitus, a low back disability, a right shoulder disability, and a left finger disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of all claims on December 16, 2024.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension and remanded the claim for service connection for eczema.

The Board granted an initial 40 percent rating for narcolepsy prior to August 21, 2020, but denied a higher rating from that date. The appeal of the claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for residual left heel laceration and the claim for service connection for eczema were withdrawn.

The Board granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, finding a medical nexus between the Veteran's in-service shaving profile and his current PFB diagnosis.

The Board denied a rating greater than 70 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded the claim for service connection for psoriasis.

The Board is remanding the case to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding the recoupment of disability compensation due to receipt of Special Separation Benefits.

The Board granted an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder and TDIU, but denied a higher initial disability rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's four left shoulder post-surgical scars are granted a 20 percent rating, but no higher. The remaining claims for increased ratings are remanded.

The Board remanded entitlement to service connection for ulcerative colitis, prostate disability, and kidney disability, as well as entitlement to a compensable disability rating for seborrheic dermatitis. The remand was ordered to correct multiple predecisional duty to assist errors including failure to provide the examiner's curriculum vitae, failure to obtain adequate medical opinions addressing the Veteran's theories of etiology, and failure to obtain forms the Veteran alleged he could not complete during the examination.