Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Veteran's PFB is rated as noncompensable, and the Board denied his claim for a higher rating. The claims of reopening service connection for right knee chondromalacia and lumbar spine arthritis were also denied.

The Veteran's hyperpigmentation of the face and neck, right knee disorder, and back pain are all found to be related to his service-connected Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB). The heart disorder and hypertension were not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's skin disorder, including candidiasis of the groin, seborrhea dermatitis of the scalp, and tinea versicolor of the back, had its onset in service and has continued since then. The Board finds that the Veteran's account of symptoms is credible and competent evidence of an ongoing skin disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA vocational specialist and associating his Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment services folder with the file.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae with scars is currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity and effects of his disability as contemplated by the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected nasal pharyngitis with allergic rhinitis and sinusitis has resulted in episodes of sinusitis requiring antibiotic treatment, but not radical surgery or repeated surgeries. His COPD and asthma are aggravated by his service-connected nasal condition. The Veteran is entitled to an increased evaluation for his nasal condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including ischemic heart disease due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents and other conditions not related to service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for acne is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his condition, as well as the potential aggravation during military service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, diabetes mellitus, type II, and various orthopedic conditions. The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as an inadequate examination. The appellant's skin disorder is being evaluated again with a new examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to address the claims of service connection for papular dermatitis and increased rating for eczematous dermatitis of the hands and face. The issues are inextricably intertwined as the adjudication of the increased rating claim depends on the outcome of the service connection claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psoriasis is likely to have had its onset during service and granted service connection for this condition. The back disability claim was not addressed as it pertained to a period of active duty outside Vietnam, and thus does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on exposure to burn pits or other specific environments.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, a skin disorder, and pes planus due to lack of verified in-service stressors, chronicity of skin disorders, and no causal relationship between current symptoms and claimed in-service events.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability rating was reduced from 50% to 40%, effective April 1, 2014. His seborrheic dermatitis rating was also reduced from 30% to 10%, effective April 1, 2014. The reduction in both ratings is considered proper based on the improvement in his hearing and skin conditions as evidenced by VA audiology evaluations conducted in October 2011 and October 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations to assess his skin condition and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's initial ratings for pseudofolliculitis barbae and irritable bowel syndrome have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence on file regarding the etiology of his renal cell carcinoma and eczema. Further VA examinations are needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected folliculitis warrants a 30 percent disability rating effective March 4, 2014. The condition affects more than 40 percent of his exposed areas and requires constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs within the past 12-month period.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU for the period from November 3, 2007 to August 10, 2009 due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found that his diabetes mellitus and related neuropathy, along with his low back disability, made him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for type II diabetes mellitus with penile dermatitis, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.