Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease, urinary incontinence, a bladder condition (neurogenic bladder), kidney disease, seborrheic dermatitis, hyperlipidemia, encephalopathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD to the AOJ for further adjudication on their merits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including psychiatric disability, reactive airway disease, and various musculoskeletal conditions, combine to a 70 percent rating. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied a compensable rating for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) as the condition did not meet the criteria for any of the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for skin conditions other than pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), including atopic dermatitis, folliculitis, and tinea versicolor. The VA examiner was asked to provide an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of these conditions, considering the Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's dermatitis is found to be related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

Service connection was denied for anxiety, PTSD, psychotic disorder, sleep disturbances, thoracolumbar strain, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and several other conditions. The Veteran's pes planus claim is remanded.,The Veteran's tinnitus was not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea versicolor was denied in February 2021, but he filed a new claim on November 3, 2022. The VA granted the claim and assigned a 30% rating effective from November 3, 2022. The Veteran requested an earlier effective date, which was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for dermatophytosis (pseudo folliculitis barbae).

The Veteran's tinea cruris and chronic urticaria are related to his in-service skin rash, which is considered service-connected.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for atopic dermatitis, finding that her current condition is related to a pre-existing skin condition she had prior to service. The Board determined that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existence and found that the Veteran's lay statements regarding continuous symptoms since service are credible enough to establish a nexus between her in-service condition and her current atopic dermatitis.

The Board has granted service connection for folliculitis of the scalp and retained metal fragments in the scalp and cheek, both on a presumptive basis. The claims for chronic disability manifested by loss of appetite and chronic fatigue are denied as they are found to be manifestations of service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinea pedis, left upper extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and hemorrhoids have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hemorrhoids is remanded as there are pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors that need to be corrected before deciding the claim on appeal.

The appeal for service connection for allergic rhinitis is dismissed. Service connection for a skin condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin condition, TDIU, and SMC based on housebound status and/or aid and attendance due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors and the need for additional development.

Service connection for PFB is granted. Service connection for dizziness, hypertension (secondary to PTSD), left foot disability (secondary to lumbar spine disability), right foot disability (secondary to lumbar spine disability), and left shoulder disability (secondary to PTSD) are remanded.