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

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection. The claims are being remanded due to conflicting medical records regarding the nature of his right leg disability, and the need to establish a direct relationship between herbicide exposure and his IBS, chloracne, prostate cancer, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded both the service connection for a skin condition, to include folliculitis, and the special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound claims due to insufficient development of records from the Veteran's service in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, and his PTSD treatment at Lakeland VA Treatment Center.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The right knee bursitis and bilateral tinnitus cases are denied, while the other issues on appeal remain pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for further examination. The Veteran's service in Southwest Asia is considered, but a more comprehensive VA examination is required.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete records and incorrect adjudication of some issues. The appellant's claim for service connection is now recharacterized to include any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has decided the case is not ready for final decision and requires further examination to determine if the Veteran's skin condition, including basal cell carcinoma and chloracne, is related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.

Service connection for an appendectomy scar is granted.,Service connection for a left elbow disability is denied. The Veteran's current treatment records are silent for a diagnosis of or treatment for a left elbow disability.,The Veteran’s solar dermatitis claim is remanded to determine if the condition has manifested at any time on or after November 13, 2017 and whether there is a medical nexus between an in-service incurrence and current diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient efforts by the AOJ in obtaining the Veteran's service records. Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the issues related to psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis remain pending as they were not discussed or addressed in the July 2013 VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and pseudofolliculitis barbae have been reopened, and the claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae has been granted. The ratings for voiding dysfunction and painful scar status post lumbar fusion have been restored, as well as the ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for tinea versicolor and tinea pedis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent under either the pre-August 13, 2018 or August 13, 2018 regulations. The Veteran's appeals for restoration of disability ratings for GERD, left ankle disability, and right thigh scars were remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of psoriasis was denied in October 1972 and not appealed. The claim to reopen was denied in April 1976 and also not appealed. The Veteran filed a new claim on February 12, 2014, which resulted in the grant of service connection for psoriasis with an effective date of February 12, 2014. The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted based on his combined disability rating being at least 70% due to multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has ordered remand for additional development regarding the Veteran's claims of ischemic heart disease, skin disorders, and TDIU. The remand includes obtaining relevant treatment records, conducting a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's ischemic heart disease, and providing an addendum opinion on the etiology of his diagnosed skin disorders.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for status post right knee replacement, residuals of a fracture of the right tibia, and dyshidrotic eczema. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions and their current severity.

The Veteran's clothing allowance for the 2015 calendar year is granted because his service-connected eczema causes irreparable damage to his outer garments.

The Board has granted service connection for right hand dermatitis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis. Service connection was denied for right ear cholesteatoma.