Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Veteran's acne conglobata has been rated as 10 percent disabling since September 11, 2007. The Board found that the condition warrants this rating throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae is rated at 30 percent since December 2, 2010. The condition covers less than 40% of the entire body and exposed areas, with intermittent topical therapy required during the past year.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae was previously denied in August 2006. New evidence received since that decision does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to a low back disability is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of the record, including obtaining a medical opinion on secondary service connection and addressing pre-existing pes planus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic fatigue and bilateral hearing loss. The decision found no current disability related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for postoperative degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, postoperative residuals of a right knee injury, and eczema have been denied. The VA has not found sufficient evidence to grant any of these claims.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for PFB was denied, and his claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disorder and reopening of the back condition claim were also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current acne is related to his service or pre-existed service and was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for dermatitis is granted as it began during a period of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and thus meets the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's skin disorder and prostate disability are presumed to be due to his service in Vietnam, where he was exposed to Agent Orange. The Board is remanding the case for further development.,Service connection has been denied for hypertension as there is no evidence of its onset during service or within a year postservice.

The Veteran's service-connected skin disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it affects less than 40 percent of exposed areas and does not require constant or near-constant treatment including topical corticosteroids and antihistamines during a 12-month period.

The Veteran's skin disability, which includes pseudofolliculitis barbae and nuchae, is rated at a 10 percent rating. The condition affects the head, face, neck, and back of his head, with persistent acne, blisters, ingrown hairs, and residual scarring covering significant portions of these areas. He uses a topical cream daily to manage his symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his skin disorder, foot rash, toenail fungus, eczematous dermatitis, xerosis, morphea, and pityriasis rosea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including prostatitis, memory loss, refractive errors of the eye, wrist condition, sinus bradycardia, hypercholesterolemia, ischemic heart disease, PTSD, sleep apnea, left elbow scar, pseudofolliculitis barbae, right hand middle finger acquired deformity, bilateral peripheral retinal degeneration with dysfunctional tear syndrome and vitreous floaters, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The claims were denied as there was no competent evidence of a service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, skin disorders (tinea versicolor, seborrheic keratosis, actinic keratosis, and basal cell carcinoma), peripheral neuropathy, and ischemic heart disease were denied as the evidence did not support a direct relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis, which causes abnormal skin texture and hyperpigmentation in the beard area, meets the criteria for a 30 percent initial rating.

The Veteran's tinea pedis has been treated with topical corticosteroid therapy and does not affect more than one percent of his entire body or exposed areas. His hypertension, however, requires continuous use of medication for control but is not manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more prior to May 17, 2014, and does require such criteria thereafter.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar stenosis was reopened and denied. His claim for increased rating of tinea pedis and onychomycosis was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating for lumbar spondylosis, service connection for bilateral knee disability, and service connection for tinea pedis are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with the hypertensive cardiovascular disease receiving a 60% rating effective August 6, 2013. The chronic lumbar strain received a 20% rating effective that same date.