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

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and evaluation of the veteran's conditions due to a lack of recent medical examination. The RO is instructed to conduct further development as outlined in the decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acne of the face was incurred during active service, but his pseudofolliculitis barbae is not considered to have originated from service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for dermatitis, otitis externa, and hepatitis as there was no evidence of significant impairment or disability that would warrant a higher evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on February 3, 1999 at Yuma Regional Medical Center due to lack of authorization and because the services were not related to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, finding that it was not incurred during active duty and is not shown to be caused by any in-service event.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for chloracne, finding that there was no basis for such a determination.

The Board found that the veteran's psoriasis did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent under either the old or new VA rating criteria, and thus denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, finding that there was no evidence of a current skin disorder related to service or herbicide exposure.

The veteran's appeal for secondary service connection for psoriatic arthritis due to his service-connected psoriasis has been dismissed because the veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinea pedis and hyperhidrosis of the feet warrant a 10 percent disability rating since the effective date of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae warrants a 10 percent evaluation, effective September 14, 1995.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a skin disability, including conditions such as onychomycosis, seborrheic dermatitis, tinea cruris, actinic keratosis, and basal cell carcinoma. The evidence submitted since the final denial supports reopening the claim.

The veteran's service-connected chloracne is currently rated at 10 percent, which does not meet his claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. The RO also denied his claims for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities and special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound.

The veteran's claims for service connection for enlarged prostate and chloracne were denied. The Board also found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claims of service connection for acne (other than chloracne or other acneform disease consistent with chloracne due to exposure to herbicide agents) and left ear disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for chronic tinea of the palms, feet, and peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or link between his military service and these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for atopic dermatitis, which was previously denied in January 1972. The veteran now contends that his skin condition first manifested during service due to soap and wool blankets.

The veteran's chronic dermatitis is found to have had its onset during active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected bunion of the left great toe and bilateral tinea pedis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the veteran's tinea pedis did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent, as his symptoms were primarily manifested by scales and fissures between the fourth and fifth toes, with some findings of blisters and/or hypopigmentation. The disability was currently rated at 10 percent.