The veteran's skin disorder, dyshidrotic eczema, has been rated at 10 percent since 1968. The RO should request the veteran to identify all medical care providers who may have relevant treatment records not already associated with the claims file and obtain any necessary release. They should also obtain from the SSA the records pertinent to the appellant's award of Social Security disability benefits as well as the medical records relied upon concerning that determination. A VA dermatologic examination is needed to determine the current extent of the service-connected skin disorder, described as dyshidrotic eczema, involving various areas of the body.
The deciding factor: The veteran testified at a Travel Board Hearing in July 2001 and indicated that his skin disorder had increased in severity over time. The RO should ensure all necessary development actions are taken to comply with the VCAA and provide the veteran with an adequate opportunity to present evidence of his disability.
- Claimed conditions
- dyshidrotic eczema
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 27, 2001
- Citation
- 0126758
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0126758.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error and the Veteran's claim for service connection for dyshidrotic eczema must be remanded to obtain an adequate opinion regarding whether his condition is related to his service in Iraq.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected skin disability, characterized by urticaria with hives and dyshidrotic eczema, is now rated at a maximum of 60 percent. This rating is based on the characteristic lesions covering more than 40 percent of his entire body or exposed areas.
- Denied
The Board denied a compensable disability rating for dyshidrotic eczema as the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.
- Dismissed
All claims for service connection and increased disability ratings have been withdrawn by the appellant, thus they are dismissed.
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