Citation Nr: 21015496 Decision Date: 03/17/21 Archive Date: 03/17/21 DOCKET NO. 16-03 831 DATE: March 17, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for psoriasis is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for psoriatic arthritis is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from November 1968 to December 1970. This matter is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an August 2014 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). This case was previously remanded by the Board in October 2018. 1. Psoriasis is remanded 2. Psoriatic arthritis is remanded The Veteran seeks entitlement to service connection for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The Veteran was provided a VA examination as to his psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in August 2020. VA has a duty to ensure that any medical examination or opinion it provides is adequate. Barr v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 303, 312 (2007). A medical opinion is adequate where it is based upon consideration of the full medical history and describes a disability in sufficient detail so that the Board’s evaluation will be fully informed. Stefl v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 120, 123 (2007). At his August 2020 VA skin examination, the Veteran stated he noticed some rash on his finger while flying in service, and he had to quit wearing his ring in 1970 due to the rash but did not know what it was. After leaving service he reported noticing more of the rash on his hands and finally was seen by a dermatologist in 1975 when he was diagnosed with psoriasis. However, the August 2020 VA negative nexus opinion did not address these lay statements regarding the onset and the continuity of his rash symptoms since service. The examiner’s rationale was based on the absence of treatment in service and no treatment for five years after service. Rashes such as psoriasis are disabilities that may readily be identified by lay persons without any medical knowledge. Jandreau v. Nicholson, 492 F.3d 1372, 1377 (2007). Notably, they are largely evaluated based on subjective reports of pain and itching, which is wholly observable and reportable by lay persons. The Veteran is competent to speak to the presence, onset, and progression of his psoriasis symptoms. Consequently, remand is required to obtain an addendum VA opinion which considers his lay statements. Psoriatic arthritis is a syndrome of psoriasis in association with inflammatory arthritis. Therefore, this matter is inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection for psoriasis; accordingly, it must be remanded as well. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain an addendum VA opinion regarding the Veteran’s psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis to answer the following: (a.) Is it at least as likely as not the Veteran’s psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis began in or are otherwise related to service? The examiner should discuss the Veteran’s contentions that he experienced rashes in service and continuously thereafter in the context of any negative opinion. R. FEINBERG Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board A. St. Laurent, Associate Counsel The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.