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

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for chloracne due to herbicide exposure, and thus the claim is granted. The Board will now proceed with a decision on whether service connection should be established.

The Board denied a separate compensable evaluation for the veteran's right foot GSW scar, finding that the scar itself does not independently limit function of the right foot.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a 50 percent disability rating for cystic acne, finding that entitlement to such increase was not factually ascertainable within one year prior to December 6, 1995.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for contact dermatitis, including as due to exposure to herbicides, finding no evidence of a chronic skin problem during or after service and no competent medical evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of chronic acne disorder in service or current chronic acne disorder related to active service, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, a skin disorder, and hypertension. The psychiatric disorder is considered to be a panic disorder incurred during active service.

The veteran is granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, a condition he incurred and worsened during his active military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for his service-connected eczematous dermatitis, which is currently rated at 10 percent. The VA found that the veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board finds that the veteran's current skin disability, characterized as tinea versicolor or folliculitis and onychomycosis, had its clinical onset during service. By extending the benefit of the doubt to the veteran, the claim for service connection is granted.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for chloracne, which he claimed was due to exposure to Agent Orange. The Board found that there is no evidence of chloracne and thus cannot grant service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's skin condition is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for alcoholism, depression, and psoriasis. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted service connection for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to the veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for acneform lesions and rosacea, evaluating it as a 10 percent disability rating effective June 2, 1997. The appeal is based on the assignment of this initial disability evaluation.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for various service-connected conditions have been granted, with the highest rating of 20 percent assigned for his left shoulder disability.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for the service-connected cervical spine degenerative changes, effective May 13, 1995. The right shoulder bursitis and bilateral foot bunionectomies are each rated at a separate 10 percent evaluation. Tinea cruris is rated as noncompensable.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic skin disorder and increased ratings for his left thigh/scrotal region disability. The veteran was not granted service connection due to lack of evidence during service or post-service, and his current conditions were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for dyshidrotic eczema of the hands, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board granted service connection for psoriasis secondary to service-connected schizophrenia and assigned an effective date of May 9, 1989. The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for schizophrenia was denied.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed upper abdominal disorder, esophageal disorder, kidney disorder, weight loss, and skin disorder/chloracne as secondary to Agent Orange exposure.