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

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected eczematoid dermatitis is being remanded due to the need for compliance with the Veterans' Claims Assistance Act (VCAA).

The Board has determined that the veteran's acne vulgaris warrants a rating of 30 percent, effective from August 30, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his service connection claim for a skin disorder, as secondary to exposure to herbicides, due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, and chloracne due to lack of persuasive medical evidence of the current claimed disabilities.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and folliculitis.

The veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for psoriasis, and service connection for pityriasis rosea were denied. The skin conditions are not presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including VA examinations and notification of the evidence needed to substantiate his claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety disorder, increased ratings for fatigue and shortness of breath due to undiagnosed illnesses, and an increased rating for tinea pedis. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, including acne and chloracne. The Board also granted service connection for acne as incurred in military service.

The veteran's case is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and records, as well as potential application of new VA skin rating criteria. The veteran may receive a higher rating if his condition warrants it.

The veteran's dysthymic disorder with a somatoform disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome is rated at 70 percent, fibromyalgia at 20 percent, arachnoid cyst at 10 percent, and seborrheic psoriasis does not warrant a compensable rating.

The veteran's skin disorder, diagnosed as chronic, intermittent dermatitis of the chest and groin, was granted service connection. The claim for an increased rating for prostatitis associated with anxiety disorder remains denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for chronic eczema, finding that his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's skin disorders rating schedule.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, finding that pes planus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were linked to noise exposure during service, a skin rash and viral illness with dermatitis did not have evidence of an onset related to service, sleep apnea was not due to undiagnosed illness, irritable bowel syndrome was diagnosed years after service without evidence linking it to service, joint pain was also diagnosed post-service without evidence linking it to service, and residuals of mole removal were asymptomatic.

The VA determined that the veteran's psoriasis was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the veteran's service-connected PTSD and the claimed abdominal disorder, right renal calculi, left renal cyst, tinea corporis, and tinea cruris.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his psychiatric disorder and undiagnosed illness claims.

The veteran's PTSD was granted an increased rating, but his claims for service connection for thyroid cancer and dermatitis were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinea pedis but denied service connection for onychomycosis with secondary ingrown toenails.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting examinations to address the veteran's claims.