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

The Veteran's skin disorder, including acne, is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the February 2020 VA medical opinion.,The Veteran's heart disorder (including non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, atrial flutter and congestive heart failure) is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the February 2020 VA medical opinion regarding its relationship to hypertension.,The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the February 2020 VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is granted a 10% rating, but no greater. The Board also grants service connection for bilateral flat feet and remands the issues of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and foot discoloration.

The Veteran's appeals for right ear hearing loss, allergies, viral syndrome, chloracne, bilateral knee disability, PFB, lumbar spine disability, and left hip disability have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder arthropathy. The skin condition claim is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The VA denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for seborrheic dermatitis, finding that the condition affected less than 20% of the appellant's total body area or exposed areas.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for various service-connected disabilities, including eczematoid dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right patellofemoral pain syndrome with shin splints and anterior compartment syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with shin splints and anterior compartment syndrome, left hip disability, diabetes mellitus type II, hypogonadism, esophageal stricture with esophageal polyp and Schatzki's ring, and ventral hernia status post-surgery with rectus diastasis.

The Veteran's retroactive CRSC payments are remanded due to a lack of information regarding any payments and withholdings made by VA prior to April 1, 2018.

The Veteran's GERD has been rated with an initial 10 percent rating, but no higher. The Board finds that the Veteran’s level of impairment meets the criteria for a 10 percent rating as his GERD was accompanied by symptoms such as persistently recurrent epigastric distress including pyrosis and regurgitation. However, the Veteran's GERD has not been shown to be accompanied by substernal, arm or shoulder pain, or productive of considerable impairment of health. The issue of an initial compensable rating for bilateral hand dermatitis, bilateral feet tinea pedis and right first toe paronychia is remanded due to lack of VA medical records associated with the photographs provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's tinea pedis of the bilateral foot is granted. The right and left knee disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for chloracne, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy all claimed as due to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left knee disability and service connection for his skin disability. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for the left knee disability, as there was no limitation of motion to warrant such a rating. For the skin disability, the Board found that the medical evidence did not support a finding that it was related to service or an undiagnosed illness.

The appeal to establish service connection for anemia is dismissed. The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, PTSD, and unspecified anxiety disorder are granted. Service connection is granted for pseudofolliculitis barbae but denied for PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's skin disability, including tinea pedis, tinea cruris, and tinea unguium, involves less than 5 percent of exposed areas and entire body affected with no more than topical treatment required over the past 12-month period. The Board denied a compensable rating for his service-connected chronic dermatitis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and CAD are granted. The back disability is also granted but the right lower extremity sciatica remains remanded. Other claims are either dismissed or remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for scalp folliculitis.