Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fungal infection of the feet/toes and skin disability (to include chloracne) have been denied. The appeals for increased ratings for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, tinea cruris, atrial fibrillation, PTSD, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease, and peripheral neuropathy are either denied or granted but subject to specific conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and folliculitis of the scalp and neck were denied. The claim for a separate 30 percent rating for folliculitis from January 11, 2017, was granted.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's psoriasis and diabetes mellitus, type II, are related to his exposure to Camp Lejeune contaminants. The VA needs to obtain an additional opinion from a medical expert to determine if these conditions are directly related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an increased rating for eczema of the hands and feet were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the conditions to service, and the current ratings are appropriate based on the severity of the skin condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sickle cell trait with bleeding and migraines, sleep apnea (Gulf War exposure), erectile dysfunction (secondary to hernia and medications), degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, allergic rhinitis, and inguinal hernia. The Veteran is also requested to provide a DRO hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea with COPD and irritable bowel syndrome, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's lichen simplex claims are remanded for further evaluation due to unclear medical issues regarding the application of the old version of DC 7806 with respect to his treatment, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the percentage of body area affected.

The Veteran's psoriasis condition was not present during his service or for many years thereafter, and the evidence does not show a relationship to his military service. The Board denied the claim of service connection for psoriasis as due to toxic herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for eczema is granted. The Board finds that the criteria for a maximum 60 percent disability rating have been approximated since the beginning of the claim.,A VA mental health examination is needed to determine if the Veteran’s acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety, had its onset during service or is otherwise related to an in-service stressor. The examiner should also provide an opinion on whether it was caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability, specifically eczema.,A VA neurological examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has a current neurological disorder in his lower extremities and to assess its relationship to his military service. The examiner should also provide an opinion on whether it was caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability, specifically a lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for seborrheic dermatitis as secondary to service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood as secondary to service-connected PFB, diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeals seeking revision of the March 1995 rating decision regarding hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, seborrheic dermatitis of the face and scalp, and right hand and wrist rash on the basis of CUE have been dismissed based on res judicata.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for high cholesterol, PTSD, left carpal tunnel syndrome, scar from cesarean sections, hysterectomy, left oophorectomy, tinnitus, pelvic pain after childbirth, right shoulder dislocation, rhinitis and sinusitis (claimed as allergies), bilateral plantar fasciitis, hypertension, eczema, lumbar spine arthritis, cervical spine arthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and severe alopecia (claimed as cicatrical scarring alopecia) for additional development to verify service records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a permanent and total disability that precludes locomotion without the aid of assistive devices, such as a wheelchair or cane. The Board has granted specially adapted housing for this reason.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection due to new evidence and additional development of his medical records is needed.