Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2002

The Board denied service connection for night sweats, flat feet, and a compensable rating for tinea pedis. The veteran's claims were not supported by medical evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claims for hypertension with coronary artery disease, psoriasis, and lumbosacral strain due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for an annual clothing allowance as his outergarments are not irreparably damaged by medication or a prosthetic/orthopedic appliance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for dermatitis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected skin disorder (dermatophytosis) warrants a 30 percent evaluation, and his claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae warrants a 30 percent evaluation, effective from February 5, 1997.

The Board found that the veteran's skin disorders affecting his feet were present prior to service and did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during service, thus denying service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his acne vulgaris is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations to determine the severity of the veteran's service-connected skin disabilities, including seborrheic dermatitis and nummular eczema.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including muscle and joint pain, insomnia, positive PPD, sinusitis, tinea versicolor, and poor vision. The evidence did not support a finding of service origin or due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board found no CUE in either decision but noted that new evidence submitted by the veteran did not establish a reasonable possibility of changing the prior adverse outcome regarding his claims for service connection and compensation for seborrheic dermatitis.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected eczematoid dermatitis, finding that it most closely approximates the criteria for such a rating based on extensive lesions and constant itching. The maximum allowable rating of 50 percent was not warranted due to lack of ulceration or systemic manifestations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected allergic contact dermatitis and eczematous dermatitis warrants a 30 percent disability rating, effective from the date of his application to reopen a claim. The effective date for the grant of service connection remains April 2, 1996.

The veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae has been granted a 10% rating effective May 10, 1999.

The VA has determined that the veteran's eczematoid dermatitis, currently rated at 30 percent disabling, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of this rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected dermatophytosis (tinea versicolor), finding that the current evaluation fully reflects the level of disability due to his skin condition.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to his inability to work.

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board denied service connection for liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension and hepatic encephalopathy, anemia, hypersplenism, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, diabetes mellitus, chloracne, and porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), as the preponderance of evidence does not support a link to service or any service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that his established service-connected conditions did not substantially or materially contribute to his death.