Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any currently diagnosed disorders of his feet for which service connection is warranted, as all such disabilities are already in effect due to service. The claim for residuals of injuries to the feet is denied.

The veteran's skin disorder claim is being remanded due to his failure to report for a VA examination, and the Board agrees that another opportunity should be provided.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's skin condition, dermatitis, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service cellulitis.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for seborrheic dermatitis (scalp dandruff) rated at 10 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for granulomatas of the lungs and a skin disease, finding no evidence that these conditions are radiogenic diseases or otherwise related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an immature personality disorder, panic disorder with adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety, ischemic heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chloracne of the hands and face, and diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure are all denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year of service. The veteran's claims for left knee disorder and bone spurs of the heels were withdrawn prior to a decision.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate her service-connected psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis of the feet.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining confirmation of the veteran's dates of active duty and inactive duty training in the Army Reserve, as well as any relevant medical records from that period. The claims for service connection for kidney stones and eczema, as well as whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for diabetes mellitus and a transurethral resection of the bladder neck and prostate with chronic cystitis, will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected dermatitis was denied by the Board in August 2001 due to untimeliness of his appeal.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus is related to his service due to noise exposure, and granted an increased rating for psoriasis.

The veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claim and for secondary service connection for a below the left knee amputation are being remanded to allow for further development, including scheduling of a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's dermatitis and onychomycosis of the feet do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as they are primarily manifested by symptoms including occasional exudation and itching with less than five percent involvement of the feet.

The veteran's migraines have been rated at 30 percent since November 5, 2004.,The veteran's papular urticaria and atopic dermatitis have been rated at 30 percent since November 5, 2004.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, are found to be sufficient for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing and further development. The issues of service connection are not addressed as the appeal is in its initial stages.

The veteran's malaria and pseudofolliculitis barbae claims were both denied. The Board found no evidence of active malaria or a diagnosis of pseudofolliculitis barbae in the record.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating evaluation for dermatitis has been denied. His claim for increased PTSD disability rating is pending and will be addressed in the remand portion of this opinion.

The veteran's psoriasis is found to be attributable to service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issue of an increased evaluation for residuals of anterior chest wall trauma remains pending.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, attributing it to folliculitis and finding no evidence of a chronic condition related to his Gulf War service.