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

The Board found no evidence of a current left ankle condition related to service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection. The skin disorder, including psoriasis, was not shown to be related to service or any incident therein.

The decedent died in September 1978 due to psoriasis. The death certificate shows that the disease directly leading to his death was psoriasis. He had no service-connected disabilities at the time of his death, and therefore is not entitled to DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected chloracne, finding that it manifested as superficial acne with periodic breakouts involving the face, chest, and upper back. The VA determined this condition did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board determined that the veteran's eczematous dermatosis of the wrists and hands meets the criteria for a 10 percent evaluation under both pre-August 30, 2002 and post-August 30, 2002 rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acne vulgaris resolved many years ago and does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's neurodermatitis was rated at 10 percent since July 1972. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted for the period up to January 13, 2004 and granted a 30 percent rating effective from January 14, 2004.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for arthritis and granted it. The veteran's current arthritis is not related to his military service, but was likely caused by a motor vehicle accident in 1968. Service connection for blood disorder, dizziness, and tinea pedis and corporis were denied.

The veteran's hepatitis and dermatitis have been rated based on their current manifestations, but no compensable evaluations are warranted.,A 10 percent rating for dermatitis is granted due to intermittent itching involving an exposed area.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings and special monthly compensation benefits was denied. The service-connected residuals of brain metastasis with right frontal temporal craniotomy have stabilized, and no neurological residuals are evident.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar strain, left shoulder disorder, and chronic headaches are service-connected. The respiratory, sinus, and knee disorders have not been established as service-connected.

The veteran's service-connected dermatitis of the feet is currently rated as noncompensable. The condition does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under either the former or revised VA rating criteria.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected bilateral dyshidrotic eczema (jungle rot) of the feet, to include tinea pedis. The RO found that the condition did not meet criteria warranting a higher rating based on its current manifestations.

The Board found no current diagnosis of a skin disorder of the scalp and denied both service connection for this condition and a compensable evaluation for tinea versicolor.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not meet the criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities, as they do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sun damaged skin and chronic dermatitis of the hands and feet, claimed as undiagnosed illness; residuals of posttraumatic lumbar syndrome and bilateral sacralization of L5; and Hepatitis A. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to active service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee disorders and tinea versicolor were denied. The RO found that the current symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including pseudofolliculitis barbae, defective vision, sleep apnea, pes planus, high pulse rate, asthma with bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, myofascial pain syndrome of the right shoulder, myofascial pain syndrome of the left shoulder, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The Board found that new evidence was needed to support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chloracne, major depression, ulcerative colitis, benign prostatic hypertrophy, asthma, and arthritis. The decision found that new evidence did not reopen the claim for chloracne, and that none of the other conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board finds that the veteran's right knee disorder was incurred in service, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The claim for new and material evidence regarding PTSD was not reopened, and the initial rating for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction remains at 20 percent.