Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's acne, a chronic condition, had its onset during service and continues to be present. Therefore, the claim for service connection for acne is granted.

The veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, COPD, neck injury residuals, lumbar strain, chronic non-specific dermatitis, and scars from cervical traction have been granted. The effective date for the COPD rating increase is April 30, 1998.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain records from a treatment facility in Lyons, New Jersey. The veteran's claim for service connection will be reviewed again after this additional information is obtained.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a body rash, tinea versicolor, and livido reticularis as an undiagnosed illness resulting from service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The claim was not well-grounded.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current conditions and his military service, including his service in the Persian Gulf War. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral tinea pedis is well-grounded and has assigned a 30 percent rating, which is the highest available under the applicable criteria. The claim of service connection for skin disorder of hands as secondary to service connected bilateral tinea pedis is not well grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder, skin rash (chloracne) due to Agent Orange exposure, and sinusitis. The claim of increased evaluation for lumbar strain was also denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, bilateral otitis media and externa, allergic rhinitis/chronic sinus congestion, and a right ankle disability. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lichen simplex chronicus, pseudofolliculitis barbae to include a skin condition of the posterior neck has also been denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for neurodermatitis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The appeals regarding evaluations in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were dismissed due to withdrawal by the veteran.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for septic arthritis, eczema, actinic keratoses, ankle warts, chondromalacia of the knees, right elbow tendonitis, and right ear hearing loss are not well grounded. The service connection claims have been denied.

The veteran's dyshidrotic eczema was rated at 50% disabling, and his claim for special monthly compensation by reason of being housebound is remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for xerotic dermatitis, finding that the claims were not well-grounded.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection due to lack of competent medical evidence linking his current conditions to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinea versicolor, finding that the veteran's current skin rash is related to his service. The other claims of service connection for gastrointestinal disability, shortness of breath, fatigue, and memory loss are denied as not well grounded.

The veteran's tinea versicolor is rated at 10 percent, hypertension at 10 percent, and cervical disc disease and stenosis with upper extremity myelopathy, postoperative fusion at 60 percent. The RO has applied the appropriate diagnostic codes to reflect these ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a skin disorder, cardiovascular disorders, polyps secondary to hemorrhoids, and pernicious anemia. The evaluation for degenerative disc disease at L4-5 was increased from 60% to 40% effective April 1, 1997.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a skin rash of the groin and chloracne, claimed as due to exposure to herbicide agents in service, are not well-grounded. The Board finds no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service or to any incident therein.

The veteran's skin conditions were not shown to be related to his military service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence of a skin condition in service and no competent medical evidence linking the current tinea pedis to any disease or injury incurred during active military service. The veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition is therefore not well-grounded.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) is denied. The claim for an increased evaluation of the service-connected hemorrhoids prior to February 1, 1998 is also denied.