Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2001

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinea pedis with secondary onychomycosis, finding that her condition did not manifest during active duty and is not otherwise related to military service.

The veteran's depression is granted service connection, but his tinea pedis and frostbite claims are denied.

The Board found that the veteran did not submit a timely substantive appeal regarding service connection for rhinitis, hypertension, pes planus, hearing loss and tinea cruris as well as entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for dissecting cellulitis of the scalp. The reduction from 30 percent to 0 percent in the rating for right eye blindness was improper.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than December 6, 1995 for a 50 percent disability rating for cystic acne as there was no evidence showing the status of his service-connected condition within one year prior to that date.

The Board has granted service connection for psoriatic arthritis of the lumbar spine, hands, and feet. The veteran's skin disability is rated at 30 percent disabling, while his joint disabilities are rated as follows: 40 percent for psoriatic arthritis of the lumbar spine, 10 percent each for psoriatic arthritis of the right hand, left hand, right foot, and left foot. He also has a separate rating of 10 percent for postoperative neuralgia of the ilioinguinal nerve with chronic groin pain. The combined rating is 80 percent. The veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background, thus meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected atopic dermatitis is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on the current clinical findings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, arteriosclerotic heart disease, and burns to both eyes. The claim for tinea cruris was partially granted with a 10% disability rating.

The veteran seeks service connection for a skin disorder, diagnosed as folliculitis with asteatoic eczema, dermatitis, tinea versicolor, and allergic dermatitis, as secondary to Agent Orange exposure. The Board has determined that further development is needed due to the lack of evidence regarding the veteran's alleged exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The VA has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae with leukopenia, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a fungal rash of the groin was denied because there is no evidence showing that he received treatment for tinea cruris in service or any link between his service and any current condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic disability manifested by fatigue due to an undiagnosed illness and for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected chronic dermatitis of the gluteal buttock area.

The veteran's acne is service-connected due to herbicide exposure during his Vietnam service. The body twitch is also service-connected as it is presumed to be related to the same in-service events.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chloracne and PTSD, finding that there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The chloracne claim was based on exposure to Agent Orange, while the PTSD claim did not have a combat-related stressor established.

The veteran's claim for a total rating due to unemployability caused by service-connected disability was denied as there was no evidence showing he was unemployable prior to July 10, 1996.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected cystic acne is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic muscle tension headaches, diarrhea, tinea pedis/tinea manuum, and granulomatous disease secondary to blastomycosis post-operative left upper lobectomy due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for a compensable evaluation for athlete's foot with dystrophic toenails, service connection for eczema, and service connection for a callus of the right foot. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service records and for consideration of the appellant's claims under the theory of undiagnosed illness.