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

The veteran's service-connected bilateral onychomycosis with tinea pedis was increased to a 30 percent rating effective June 25, 2003. The condition had been rated at 10 percent prior to that date.

The Board has granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis and assigned a 10 percent disability rating effective from September 27, 2000.

The veteran's claims for increased diabetes, COPD, and chloracne were denied as secondary to Agent Orange exposure. The VA found no evidence linking these conditions to service or Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran's claim for PTSD was denied an effective date prior to October 4, 1996.,The veteran's claim for lumbosacral strain and disc disease was denied an effective date prior to June 8, 1995.,The veteran's claims for hearing loss of the right ear and tinea cruris were both denied an effective date prior to January 1, 1994.

Service connection for tinea pedis and tinea unguium was granted with an effective date of December 2, 1994. A rating in excess of 30 percent for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression with memory loss, chronic diarrhea, cervical spine disability, and skin rash as they did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD or were not linked to his in-service stressors. The diagnoses offered have been depression.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The claims of increased disability evaluations for varicose veins and service connection for eczema are pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a personal hearing and compliance with VCAA requirements.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a relationship between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's diagnosed tinea pedis was incurred during active military service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities involving his hands, knees, wrists, or respiratory system as a result of service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for dermatitis, peripheral neuropathy, and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The RO must ensure that all VCAA notice and development obligations have been satisfied. A VA psychiatric examination is also required.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA clinic records and a PTSD examination. The veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and tinea pedis, as well as TDIU, are pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA dermatology examination and considering whether separate disability ratings are appropriate. The veteran's acne vulgaris with facial scarring will be evaluated under the new skin regulations effective August 30, 2002.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected chronic dermatitis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and new issues were addressed. The RO granted an increased rating of 10 percent for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease effective from March 14, 2003, but the other claims remain pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder including seborrheic dermatitis, and sarcoidosis of the lungs, skin, and epididymis. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA dermatologic examination. The veteran's claim of service connection for tinea cruris will be reconsidered after these steps.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an initial increased disability rating for his service-connected acne, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board denied service connection for dermatitis of the dorsal surface of the hands and denied entitlement to service connection for sinusitis. The veteran's claim for dermatitis was not reopened, and there is no current evidence of sinusitis.