Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2004

The veteran's claim for service connection for skin disease of the head, arms, and left leg including as due to exposure to herbicides remains unresolved. A VA dermatologic examination is required to determine if any chronic acne vulgaris process or other chronic skin disorder initially manifested in active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and requests for further searches.

The veteran's tinea versicolor has been rated at 30 percent since August 2002, based on extensive involvement of approximately 20% of his non-exposed body surface area.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability and a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae, finding no evidence of chronic conditions in service or a link to military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinea versicolor, chronic back disorder, and fibromyalgia. The VA found no objective indications of chronic disability that could not be attributed to any known clinical diagnosis.

The veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis, hypertension, and tinnitus was denied. The claims for hypertension and tinnitus are being remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VCAA notification and the need for additional medical records, particularly from the Iowa City VA Medical Center.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his acne vulgaris and service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression, as secondary to his service-connected acne vulgaris.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for folliculitis was granted, with the effective date set at October 15, 2004.

The Board found that the veteran does not have chloracne or chronic acneform disorder consistent with chloracne, which was of service onset or due to any events in service, including presumed Agent Orange exposure. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for chloracne due to exposure to herbicides, finding that there was no evidence sufficient to grant this claim.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, but granted the initial ratings of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, bilateral athlete's foot, and favorable ankylosis of the right ring and little fingers.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not impair his ability to prepare for, obtain, or retain employment consistent with his abilities, aptitudes and interests. Therefore, he is not in need of vocational rehabilitation.

The veteran's skin condition is rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that there are no new or material issues to reopen his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date, finding that October 14, 1975 was the correct date of entitlement to service connection.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for a review of the claims file and an examination by the examiner who conducted the 2000 physical examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a low back disorder, arthritis of the legs, disability manifested by dizziness and syncope, migraine headaches, tinea pedis, tinea cruris, onychomycosis, hemorrhoidal tags, or lentiginosis that are related to active service. Therefore, these claims for service connection are denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected skin condition is being remanded due to the need for clarification of the extent and severity of his disability, as well as consideration of both old and new rating criteria.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder or skin disorder related to his active service, but he did experience headaches during active duty for training. The veteran's current headaches are considered as an undiagnosed illness due to his Gulf War service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and tinea pedis are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.