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

The Board has granted service connection for bronchial asthma and denied service connection for tinea versicolor.

The veteran's service-connected chloracne with residual scarring is manifested by deep pitting scars on his face, and the Board has determined that the schedular criteria for an evaluation of 30 percent have been met.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, chloracne, and a skin rash other than chloracne due to herbicide exposure. The veteran's claimed in-service stressors were not substantiated, and there is no credible supporting evidence that the current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left leg varicose veins, finding that the condition is related to the veteran's in-service thermal injury and resulting stasis dermatitis.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased disability ratings in various conditions, finding that none of the conditions warranted a higher rating based on the evidence provided.

The veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability warrants a 20 percent rating from June 1, 1996 through April 1, 1997. From June 1, 1997, the criteria for a greater initial rating are not met. The veteran's avascular necrosis of the hips is rated as 10 percent disabling since June 1, 1996. Patellofemoral syndrome and tinea versicolor do not warrant compensable ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chloracne and folliculitis of the scalp and trunk are related to his service, including his exposure to herbicide agents during his military service in Thailand. The claim is granted.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for a skin disorder, diagnosed as dermatosis and unspecified dermatitis, finding no evidence of such condition during active service or any relationship to military service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected dyshidrotic eczema, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase.

The Board finds that the veteran's currently demonstrated psoriasis is likely due to his service, and thus grants service connection for psoriasis. Service connection for lichen simplex chronicus was also granted.

The veteran's service-connected skin disability of the feet, characterized by itching, maceration, ulceration, and swelling, warrants a 30 percent evaluation under the revised criteria for evaluating skin disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of acneiform disease due to dioxin exposure, finding that there is no legal basis for such a claim as the earliest possible effective date would be March 11, 1987.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including residuals of a left heel fracture, major depressive disorder and PTSD, foot fungus, gastrointestinal disorder due to an undiagnosed illness, sleeplessness due to an undiagnosed illness, headaches due to an undiagnosed illness, and hair loss and acne lesions of the face due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma due to Agent Orange exposure, as well as service connection for tinea and vitiligo with dermatitis. The veteran's claims were held in abeyance pending new regulations.

The Board found that the veteran's phlebitis of the lower extremities, currently manifested by chronic venous insufficiency of the legs with stasis dermatitis and pitting and brawny edema of the right leg, was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The VA denied the appellant's claim for an increased rating for his tinea versicolor disability, currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the condition does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under either the old or new regulations.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and found that a new and material evidence has been submitted. The claim for increase in disability evaluation for acne vulgaris is granted with a rating of 10 percent.

The Board granted a 10% evaluation for the veteran's service-connected dyshidrotic eczema of the hands and feet, effective from February 21, 1996.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected costochondritis and parapsoriasis and keratosis with mycosis fungoides, finding that his disabilities did not meet criteria for higher ratings.