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

The Board has granted the veteran's application to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for seborrheic dermatitis, claimed as a result of exposure to herbicides. The reopened claim requires additional development and is pending further adjudication.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a psychiatric disability (PTSD) are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations.

The VA has determined that the veteran's dermatitis, currently rated at 30 percent, does not warrant a higher rating based on current medical evidence.

The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his rheumatoid arthritis is denied. Service connection was granted for eczema of the hands, but not for distorted hearing in the left ear or crepitus of the knees.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae and hepatitis to the RO for further development. The veteran is required to provide information about any healthcare providers who have treated him for these conditions since service.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches, joint pain involving elbows and wrists as due to an undiagnosed illness, and dermatitis of the elbows and back as due to an undiagnosed illness. The veteran's current conditions are linked to her active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected nummular eczema with seborrheic dermatitis does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability evaluation than 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for tinea versicolor, finding that the condition did not develop during service and is not related to any in-service event or injury.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for eczematous dermatitis of the back was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected dermatophytosis, currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tinea cruris and an increased evaluation for his service-connected left varicocele were both denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for tinea cruris, as there was no in-service diagnosis or treatment for this condition. For the left varicocele, while the veteran claimed it was related to his service-connected condition, the VA medical opinions provided conflicting conclusions and were deemed unreliable due to typographical errors. The evidence did not support a secondary service connection.

The veteran's cystic acne of the face with pseudofolliculitis barbae results in marked bilateral facial disfigurement, warranting a 50 percent disability rating under the former and amended criteria for skin disabilities.

The veteran's claim for service connection for chloracne was denied as there is no medical evidence or nexus between the recently diagnosed tinea versicolor and his military service. The Board concluded that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim.

The veteran's neurodermatitis disseminata was increased to 60 percent effective August 30, 2002.,Effective December 28, 1987, the veteran is granted service connection for a fascial defect and anterior medial scar of the right lower extremity with degenerative joint disease.,Effective October 3, 1989, the veteran is granted service connection for primary open-angle glaucoma.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a skin disorder, as no new evidence was provided that would raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right foot fracture, pes planus, and tinea pedis. The evidence did not show current disabilities or any link to service.

The veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae and residuals of a fracture of the right fourth metacarpal are rated at 10 percent each, effective from September 17, 2001.

The Board has remanded the case for further evidentiary development, including a review of the July 2003 examination report and an opinion on whether pseudofolliculitis is related to service. The issue of an initial disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD remains pending.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from obtaining and retaining employment consistent with her abilities, aptitudes, and interests; she does not have an employment handicap.

The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for service-connected tinea pedis has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of the case.