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

The Board found no evidence of chronic disabilities related to the claimed conditions during service or that are otherwise linked to service, thus denying all claims for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's symptoms of COPD with sleep apnea, tinea pedis, and bilateral knee disorder (chondromalacia) are not related to service or an undiagnosed illness. The claims were denied as they do not meet the criteria for service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, fatigue, skin disorder of the feet, and numbness of the extremities with loss of grip strength are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and the appellant's period of active service.

The veteran's dyshidrotic eczema of the hands is currently rated at 30 percent, which meets his claim for an increased rating.,The veteran's chronic low back strain is currently rated at 10 percent. The RO granted a higher rating to 30 percent effective November 14, 1995.

The veteran's skin disorder, which includes acne and pseudofolliculitis barbae, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board found that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 7800 or 7806. Additionally, the veteran has been granted entitlement to TDIU due to his service-connected asthma and hypertension.

The veteran's tinnitus is found to be due to disease or injury incurred in service, and thus granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including ulcers, tinea of the hands and feet, anxiety disorder, hypertension, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and hearing loss, are well-grounded. The right ear hearing impairment was incurred in service.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected dermatitis, effective from April 1995. The veteran's right foot condition was also rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claims for service connection for skin disease (claimed as jungle rot), chloracne, and lymphoma, all claimed as due to Agent Orange exposure. The Board found that there was no competent evidence showing a current disability related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded this case for further development due to issues related to the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including gouty arthritis of multiple joints and hiatal hernia.

The Board has remanded the case due to ambiguity in the circumstances surrounding the VA examination of October 1999. The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD will be reviewed again with a new examination by two different psychiatrists.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right arm condition and glomerulonephritis, made him unable to work as of May 1, 1995. The effective date for the TDIU rating is set at May 1, 1995.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded, as there was no competent medical evidence linking his current conditions to service. The hearing loss and tinea versicolor are considered new and material issues due to the reopening of the claim on new evidence.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for psoriasis was denied, as the evidence did not show that his condition warranted a higher evaluation.,The veteran's claim seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for COPD and asthma incurred during VA treatment in July 1986 was also denied.

The veteran's lumbosacral spine disability, including arthritis, was granted service connection. Service connection for chloracne is denied. The veteran received a 30% rating for left retinal detachment and a 10% rating for prostatectomy due to adenocarcinoma of the prostate.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including dermatitis of the arms and groin area, left ear hearing loss, chronic meibomianitis of both eyes, a chronic eye disorder (claimed as herpes), a chronic elbow disorder (claimed as lateral epicondylitis of the left elbow), a bilateral knee disorder, a chronic back disorder (claimed as degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine), and a chronic neck disorder (claimed as degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine).

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, malignant melanoma of the left shoulder, basal cell carcinoma of the face, skin rash (acne), abdominal disorder (diverticulitis), headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), residuals of right nephrectomy, cyst of the liver and gallbladder, tingling of the lower extremities, a disorder of the left eyelid with associated loss of vision, residuals of stress fractures of the left tibia and ribs, and chest pain. The ratings for these conditions have not been assigned yet.

The Board denied entitlement to increased ratings for allergic/vasomotor rhinitis with headaches, pseudofolliculitis barbae, right wrist disability, and lumbosacral strain (back).

New evidence has been submitted since the RO's March 1994 decision, which is significant enough to consider in order to fairly decide the merits of the claim. The veteran now has a current skin disability and had ongoing skin manifestations since service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for sinusitis, tinea pedis, and bronchitis are granted. The rating for sinusitis is now at 30 percent, the rating for tinea pedis remains at 10 percent, and the rating for bronchitis has been increased to 10 percent.