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

The veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance is denied as he does not have a service-connected disability that requires use of a prosthetic or orthopedic appliance that tends to wear or tear his clothing, or which requires use of prescribed medication for a skin condition causing irreparable damage to outer garments.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a dermatologist's examination and ensuring compliance with VCAA notice requirements.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including obtaining additional medical records. The appeal is currently remanded for this purpose.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the veteran's chloracne. The veteran is also required to provide information about any private healthcare providers who have treated him.

The Board found that the veteran's current neurological disability, which he claims is related to a head injury sustained during service, was not incurred or aggravated by service. The other issues on appeal (PFB and PTSD) are remanded for further examination and review.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, pseudofolliculitis barbae and bronchial asthma, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition, finding that his current conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein due to herbicide exposure.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and found that the veteran's skin disability, including chloracne, is not related to service or exposure to Agent Orange. The issue of reopening a claim for service connection for PTSD was also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's anxiety disorder, short-term memory loss, joint and muscle pain, weakness and fatigue, dishydrotic eczema, and tinea pedis. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current diagnosis of chronic dermatitis is causally related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's acne vulgaris and hidradenitis suppurative condition beginning August 30, 2002. The previous rating of 30 percent was increased to reflect the severity of his symptoms.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for atopic dermatitis was denied due to his failure to report for VA examinations without good cause.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include loss of vision due to ocular histoplasmosis and tinnitus, are severe enough to prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board found no evidence of hypertension during service or within the one-year presumptive period after service. The veteran's current skin disability and right ear hearing loss are not linked to his active military service, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae is being remanded for additional examination and development to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for scoliosis and a bilateral knee disability, as well as his claim for an increased rating for his skin condition. The veteran was not granted any of these claims.

The veteran's service-connected dermatitis of the hands was rated at 30 percent since August 15, 1950. The Board found that he did not meet the criteria for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 as his disability was never rated at a 100% level prior to death.

The Board has granted a temporary total disability rating based on convalescence for the veteran's service-connected conditions from June 14, 1995 to October 30, 1995.

The veteran's skin disability, including acne with hypopigmented macules and a residual scar from an excised tumor, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The Board found no reasonable basis to grant the benefit sought on appeal.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for generalized dermatitis. However, it is not established that the veteran's current skin condition is related to his military service. The claim for PTSD was denied as there is no competent medical evidence of a diagnosis or in-service stressor.