Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the nature, etiology, and relationship of his claimed condition to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to address hyperpigmentation in the most recent VA examination. The Veteran is required to provide medical records, undergo a new VA examination, and have his service-connected PFB disability rated.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of cold injury to the bilateral lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking any current condition to his period of active service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for dermatosis, chronic sinusitis, and a headache disability have been granted. The Veteran also received increased evaluations for PTSD (70%), fibromyalgia (40%), and irritable bowel syndrome (30%). Bilateral hearing loss was denied.,An effective date of August 6, 2018, has been assigned for the 70 percent evaluation for PTSD. Effective dates have also been assigned for increased evaluations for fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action on several issues, including PTSD ratings and compensation claims. Specific actions required include obtaining SSA records and issuing a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, Lyme disease, eczema, and an earlier effective date for anemia due to the appellant's withdrawal of these issues.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher initial evaluation for irritant dermatitis and service connection for shin splints have been remanded due to inadequate examinations. The VA is required to provide new or updated examinations to address the percentage of total body area affected by the Veteran's irritant dermatitis and to determine whether his shin splints are related to service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions obtained prior to the February 2019 rating decision were inadequate, as they did not address the Veteran's contentions regarding herbicide exposure and his self-treatment of his skin condition. The claims for service connection are therefore remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or a nexus to his current disabilities.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for several service-connected conditions, including skin condition, flat feet, GERD, left knee condition, left wrist condition, and left wrist scar. The Veteran's fibromyalgia and hypertension were granted service connection.,Several issues are remanded for further review, including initial ratings for various disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) due to additional evidence received after transfer to the Board.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae with facial scarring has been rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under current regulations. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating as there were no scars meeting the criteria for a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's atopic dermatitis is now rated at 30 percent, effective November 22, 2016. The Board found that the use of oral prednisone for less than six weeks during any twelve-month period did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the old version of Diagnostic Code 7806. However, considering VA treatment records and lay testimony, the Board determined that the Veteran used prednisone for at least six weeks in some twelve-month periods, which could be considered systemic therapy and warranted a 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and nonservice-connected pension due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the veteran's skin conditions. The claims will be reconsidered with additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected chloracne was dismissed because the Veteran passed away before a decision could be made.