Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2003

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for dermatitis of the hands, feet, and legs is being remanded due to failure to provide proper notification under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The Board denied service connection for residuals of lead exposure and a skin disorder on the right arm, finding no current disability related to these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for eczema, secondary to atopic dermatitis. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen his claim for macular degeneration was not addressed in this decision.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current level of his skin disability and determine if his hand condition is related to his service-connected feet condition. The RO must also ensure all notification and development action required by the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 is completed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tinea pedis, finding that there was no evidence of its onset during active duty or subsequent periods of active duty for training.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for seborrheic dermatitis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board found that the appellant does not have tinea pedis related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected skin disability, characterized by dermatophytosis and tinea pedis, does not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent due to the lack of more severe manifestations such as ulceration or extensive exfoliation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected dermatophytosis and eczema of the jock area did not warrant a compensable rating for the period from September 16, 1997, through August 12, 2001, or any higher rating thereafter.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed stasis dermatitis was not incurred in service or as a result of his service-connected shell fragment wound of the right thigh, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder due to exposure to Agent Orange and on a direct basis, finding that his skin disorders were not related to service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection for degenerative arthritis of the knees and shoulders, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty. The claim for increased rating for psoriasis was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinea pedis, a condition claimed as jungle rot of the feet, was incurred in service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current skin disorder, pseudofolliculitis barbae, was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition. The other issues on appeal are pending further development.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of exposure to herbicides, including a skin rash and acne claimed as chloracne.

The Board finds that the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 2, 1997, for restoration of compensation for service-connected psoriasis has not been met. The RO suspended payments in 1979 due to the veteran failing to report for a VA examination and did not hear from him until July 11, 1997.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues listed on the front page of this decision.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected skin disorder of the feet and right wrist does not warrant a rating in excess of zero percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed tinea pedia, onychodystrophy and paronychia are causally related to symptoms manifested during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for chloracne and resulting residual facial scars, finding no evidence of such conditions during service or within a year after service. The veteran was presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam.