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

The Veteran's right knee disability and pseudofolliculitis barbae were denied increased ratings. The right knee disability was rated at 10% based on painful motion, while the pseudofolliculitis barbae did not meet a compensable rating criteria.

The Veteran's scar, post right inguinal hernia surgical repair, is granted a 20 percent rating.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate examination and evaluation of the Veteran's left hip, as well as retrospective medical opinions regarding the range of motion during flare-ups and whether the treatment for tinea pedis amounts to systemic therapy.

The Veteran's tinea barbae was found to manifest with characteristic lesions covering less than 20 percent of exposed area and total body area, warranting a 10 percent rating. The Board denied the claim for an increased rating as the evidence did not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran withdrew all active appeals regarding the service connection issues listed in his May 18, 2022 Notice of Disagreement. The appeal is dismissed as withdrawn.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae, finding that the condition affected less than 5 percent of the Veteran's total or exposed body area and did not require systemic therapy.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis, left foot pes planus, and dermatophytosis due to a duty to assist error. The VA must obtain adequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder and cannabis use was granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent. Other service connection claims were denied or remanded.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is denied.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for entitlement to service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae is denied.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability is granted. Entitlement to service connection for constipation is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for an abdominal condition (other than constipation) is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for an esophageal disability, to include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and dyspepsia, is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis due to the lack of evidence of a current disability during or contemporary to the pendency of the claim.,The Veteran's dermatitis is remanded as there are unclear issues regarding whether topical treatment affects the body as a whole and if any medications used are like or similar to a corticosteroid or other immunosuppressive drug.,The Board has remanded service connection for a neck condition due to an incomplete factual premise in the previous opinions, specifically the lack of documentation of complaints or treatment for a neck condition during military service.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding the claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral tinea pedis/tinea unguium. The case is being remanded for a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's medication (Fluconazole, Lubriderm topical lotion, and mipirocin ointment) is 'like or similar to' a corticosteroid or other immunosuppressive drug.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral dermatophytosis tinea pedis, and the Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The dermatophytosis of the bilateral feet was rated as noncompensable, while the plantar warts of the bilateral feet also received a noncompensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for psoriasis and bilateral hearing loss due to issues with obtaining necessary medical records, including those from Dr. C.W., and further development is required regarding the impact of his service-connected PTSD and hypertension on his psoriasis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment from at least August 1, 2014, and the Board granted a TDIU effective that date.