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

The Board has granted service connection for tinea pedis and diabetes mellitus, finding that both conditions are related to the veteran's active duty. Service connection for PTSD is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board is remanding the case for further examination and to obtain additional medical records related to the veteran's skin disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and an initial disability rating of 30 percent for the veteran's skin condition (tinea versicolor). The issues regarding bilateral hearing loss, seizure disorder, and a higher rating for the skin condition are still pending.

The veteran's service-connected right ear hearing loss is currently rated as Level III, warranting a noncompensable rating. The Board finds that the veteran's skin disability (diagnosed as eczema) was incurred during his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's neurodermatitis is likely attributable to his military service and the Board finds that service connection is warranted for this condition. The claim of increased rating for residuals of a back injury and degenerative changes in the lumbar spine with right L4 radiculitis remains pending.

The cause of the veteran's death was adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, which is not presumed to be related to service exposure to herbicides. The Board finds no evidence that the veteran's pancreatic cancer was caused or aggravated by his military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including headaches and a right knee disability, are severe enough to prevent her from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and an increased evaluation for diabetes mellitus. The skin condition was not shown to be related to service, including presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. Diabetes mellitus did not require regulation of activities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia, chloracne due to Agent Orange exposure, and porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) due to Agent Orange exposure. The veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for a combined schedular rating of 100% prior to January 27, 1999 is granted. The effective date is set as December 28, 2000.

The veteran's claims for service connection for seborrheic keratosis and dermatitis papilloma nigra, as well as his PTSD claim, were denied. The Board found no evidence to support a direct or presumptive link between the claimed conditions and service, including presumed herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sinusitis and a compensable evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC. The other claim for an increased rating for bilateral tinea pedis has been decided.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for lichen planus and eczematoid dermatitis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining recent medical records and scheduling a dermatology evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, a right knee/leg disorder secondary to his service-connected left knee condition, and a back disorder secondary to his service-connected left knee condition. The denial is based on insufficient evidence showing that these conditions are related to his military service.

The VA has determined that the veteran's tinea pedis and onychomycosis of the feet do not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for eczematoid dermatitis, currently rated at 30 percent disabling.

The veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including nodulocystic acne and affective disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in VCAA notice and additional development is required for all issues.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed because his substantive appeal to the Board with regard to an application to reopen a claim for service connection for back disability, and claims for increased ratings for residuals of an incision affecting the 11th and 12th intercostal nerves, and residuals of nephrolithiasis with a partial left nephrectomy and right pyelolithotomy was not filed within one year of notification of the initial rating decision or within 60 days of the statement of the case.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) has determined that the veteran's current skin disorder, eczema, is the result of events during active service and related to exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for service connection for a skin disorder is granted.