Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational experience. The Board denied the claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to May 2, 2014.

The Veteran's tinnitus was not diagnosed during service and is not otherwise related to in-service noise exposure. The Board finds no nexus between the current disability and active duty.,Systemic lupus and dermatitis of the face, neck, ears, fingers, and hands were not shown as chronic in service or within one year post-service. There is insufficient evidence to establish a connection with service.

The Veteran is granted entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) from May 10, 2004. The criteria for TDIU prior to this date have not been met.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was granted an increased rating to 40% effective February 5, 2017.,The Veteran's PFB was granted an increased rating to 30% effective November 29, 2018.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied in July 2005, but reopened due to new evidence presented. The claims of service connection for a back disorder and skin disorder were also reopened. A rating higher than 30 percent for PTSD prior to February 20, 2019 is denied, while a 50 percent rating from that date onward is granted. The Veteran's PFB remains rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeals, and there is no effective date granted due to lack of prior formal or informal claim.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and muscle pain residual to a back injury are being remanded due to the failure of VA to schedule new examinations as part of the August 2018 Board remand.

The Board has granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae and denied service connection for hypertension, high cholesterol, PTSD, and nonservice-connected pension benefits. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is characterized broadly as an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. Service connection was remanded for several additional conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The atopic dermatitis claim was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, while the PTSD claim was denied due to symptoms not meeting the criteria for a 70% or higher rating.

The Veteran's diffuse xerosis and eczema are rated at 10 percent, while his calluses of the right foot and left foot each receive a separate 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, skin disability (tinea unguium), and low back disability have all been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of these conditions during or immediately after service, and the medical opinions provided did not support a direct link to service.

The Veteran's ratings for hypertensive heart disease and tinea pedis were restored to their previous levels of 30 percent, effective December 1, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error by the AOJ, as there was insufficient evidence of record to adjudicate his claim for a higher disability rating for his skin disabilities. The RO relied on a September 2019 VA examination that only addressed the severity of dermatophytosis and did not evaluate PFB.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's skin condition, including vitiligo and dermatitis, should be remanded for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae with dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and migraine headaches were all remanded for further review.,Service connection was not established for any of the conditions.