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

The VA denied the veteran's request for an increased disability evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae, currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board found that the veteran's condition did not meet criteria warranting a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran's anxiety disorder warrants a 30% rating, but not higher. The skin disorder was rated as 30%, which is the maximum allowed under current criteria.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia, finding that the claimed symptoms do not constitute fibromyalgia and there is no direct or secondary nexus to military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected tinea corporis does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the old schedular criteria of Diagnostic Code 7806.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinea pedis and a right shoulder disability, finding no evidence of such conditions in service or within one year after discharge.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his acne vulgaris, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The current rating of 30 percent is considered appropriate given the severity and nature of his condition.

The VA determined that the veteran's eczema of the feet was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred as a result of exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for chloracne due to exposure to Agent Orange, but finds that there is no current disability and thus no basis on which service connection may be predicated.

The Board has determined that the veteran's skin disorders, including porphyria cutanea tarda, were not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current skin disabilities are not related to his active military service and have denied his claim for service connection.

The VA determined that the veteran's facial scars secondary to acne vulgaris warranted a 30 percent rating, effective from June 24, 2003.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for seborrheic dermatitis and tinea pedis, as due to exposure to herbicides. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current skin disorder related to Agent Orange exposure during service.

The veteran's service connection claim for dermatitis is granted as his condition was incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected skin disabilities was denied by the RO. The veteran also requested service connection for folliculitis, intertrigo, and keratosis pilaris but this request was not granted.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder, headaches, a chronic back disorder, acne vulgaris (claimed as a residual of exposure to Agent Orange), scars (claimed as a residual of exposure to Agent Orange), asthma, and a 'gland problem' (claimed as a residual of exposure to Agent Orange). The RO denied service connection for these conditions in March 1982.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for nummular eczema and gout, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support higher evaluations under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for dermatitis of the hands and a right shoulder disability, finding no evidence to support these conditions as being related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected Achilles tendonitis and skin disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the schedular criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the veteran's current psoriasis of the buttocks is a continuation of perianal complaints treated but not diagnosed during service.