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

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including allergic rhinitis, positive PPD reaction, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, circulatory problems of each leg, costochondritis, and injuries to the right shoulder, ankle, and hand. The appeals are all denied as direct service connection is not warranted.

The Board denied service connection for nummular eczema and bilateral infection of the lower extremities, other than onychomycosis and tinea pedis as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to service.

The veteran's skin rash and PTSD have been granted service connection. The veteran is currently rated at 30% for his PTSD.

The veteran's metatarsalgia of the right and left feet have been granted a 30 percent rating, effective from June 1995. The veteran's neurodermatitis has not resulted in an increased rating beyond the initial 10 percent assigned.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected dermatophytosis, as it is currently evaluated at 10 percent and does not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected dermatitis, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on the criteria in effect before and after August 2002.

The veteran's tinea cruris of the hands, feet, and groin is currently rated at 30 percent disabling.,The veteran's orchialgia of the right testicle due to epididymal cyst is not service connected.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's hypertensive heart disease and eczematoid dermatitis of the hands and rash of the groin and penis, maintaining the current disability ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's infertility, hearing loss, and skin rash are not service-connected. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The veteran's lichen simplex and follicular eczema were granted increased ratings, but the scar on his right little finger was denied. The case is considered mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Board finds that the veteran has a chronic fungal infection of his feet, which is service-connected. However, there is no evidence to support a claim for a skin disorder of the hands and groin area.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his low back injury and right leg radiculopathy, do not render him individually unemployable.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right homonymous hemianopsia of both eyes and chronic eczematous dermatitis of the hands and lower extremities, including as secondary to exposure to herbicides. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a skin condition, to include psoriasis, and denied his claim for a compensable rating for a scar on his right lower leg. The Board found no evidence linking the current skin condition or scar to service.

The veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae, inactive, is rated as noncompensable due to the lack of significant disability. The condition results in a few follicular papules and no scarring.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a back disorder and epidermophytosis pedis (foot rash, tinea pedis). The claim for a back disorder was denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The claim for epidermophytosis pedis was denied as there was no new and material evidence submitted since the 1983 rating decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and compensable ratings for his service-connected pes planus, post-operative thyroidectomy, diverticulum of the right hypopharynx, and tinea pedis.

The Board denied service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae and bilateral flat feet. The veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae was not supported by competent evidence of a medical nexus to his military service, while the claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet is pending as there has been no issuance of a SOC.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected generalized atopic dermatitis with acneform rash does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent. The claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disabilities were also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and earlier effective dates for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VCAA compliance.