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

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral inguinal herniae, acne cysts, and back disorder. The Board found no medical opinion supporting a direct relationship between these conditions and his service-connected left foot disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a skin disability, including porphyria cutanea tarda and dermatitis, claimed as a result of exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and skin disorders of folliculitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and tinea pedis as secondary to the veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The veteran's service-connected skin disability, classified as tinia pedis, tinea unguium, and pitted keratolysis, is currently evaluated at 30 percent. The veteran's service-connected external hemorrhoids are currently evaluated at zero percent (non-compensable). Both conditions were denied.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal because she did not file a timely substantive appeal within one year of receiving notification of the July 1994 rating decision.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied across the board. The VA found no evidence of chronic conditions related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for prostatitis and granted a 30 percent evaluation for psoriasis, effective October 30, 1996.

The veteran's skin disability, specifically tinea pedis with onychomycosis, was granted an increased rating to 10 percent effective from August 30, 2002. The condition has been rated as noncompensably disabling prior to this date.

The Board has granted service connection for chloracne of the forehead, ankles, and legs, finding that it is related to exposure to herbicide spray during active military service in Vietnam.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected comedonal and cystic acne is being remanded due to inadequate discussion of the severity of the disability as shown by medical evidence. The RO will evaluate the veteran's skin condition under both old and new versions of Diagnostic Code 7806, 38 C.F.R. § 4.118.

The Board found no evidence to support a service connection for the veteran's claimed acne, and thus denied his claim.

The veteran's appeals for increased ratings for eczema of the hands and feet, and blurred vision/night blindness (due to pupil constriction) have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The veteran's claim for evaluation of acne keloid formation at the base of the neck is being remanded due to a change in rating criteria. A new examination under the current criteria is needed.

The veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae with tinea cruris was denied by the RO. The RO continued a noncompensable rating and later granted an increased evaluation to 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's son, M, recognition as a helpless child due to his permanent incapacity for self-support because he was still attending school and capable of supporting himself at age 18.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for residuals of psuedofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for his fungal infection of the groin with tinea pedis, onychomycosis, and xerosis of the hands and feet. The issues of service connection for back, right shoulder, right hip, and bilateral knee disabilities have also been denied.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral eye disorder, bilateral hearing loss, shoulder disorders, skin disorder, and liver disorder. The conditions were not found to be related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected seborrheic dermatitis is no more than 10 percent disabling under either the old or new rating criteria, and denied his claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent.