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

The Board has determined that the veteran's service in Vietnam presumptively exposed him to Agent Orange, and there is some evidence suggesting a causal relationship between his Agent Orange exposure and his claimed conditions. The decision grants service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and chloracne due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board found no evidence of current chloracne or peripheral neuropathy related to the veteran's service, including Agent Orange exposure. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chloracne and peripheral neuropathy, both presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The lumbar spine degenerative joint disease was not found to be service-connected, nor did PTSD meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a current acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and denied the veteran's claims for service connection. The claim for an increased rating for acne of the face and scalp was also denied, as the medical evidence did not show that the condition warranted a higher rating than 30 percent. Regarding the earlier effective date for the 30 percent rating, the Board found that no competent medical evidence existed for the one-year period prior to October 19, 1998, which would have supported an earlier effective date.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current pseudofolliculitis barbae or fungal infection of the feet and groin, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he or his representative withdrew the appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the veteran's tinea cruris with trunk rash, effective from when he filed his claim in December 1997.

The veteran seeks service connection for a skin disorder, specifically superficial perivascular dermatitis with spongiosis, which he claims is due to herbicide exposure during his military service. The Board has ordered additional VA examination and review of records from the Army National Guard and Army Reserves.

The Board denied service connection for right patellofemoral pain syndrome, right great toenail disability, eczema, and bilateral hand arthritis. Service connection was granted for left knee arthritis with a noncompensable evaluation.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 5, 1996 for service connection of chloracne is granted. The effective date is set at September 5, 1995.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the veteran's chloracne of the back, buttocks, and scrotum, which is more than the initially assigned 10 percent rating. The condition does not meet criteria for higher ratings under other diagnostic codes.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, effective from October 4, 1999. The veteran also received a higher initial evaluation for his neurodermatitis.

The Board denied service connection for psoriasis but granted an increased rating for lichen simplex chronicus and tinea cruris. The veteran's current claim of service connection is denied, while his existing service-connected conditions are addressed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for paraspinal muscle herniations of the lumbar area and for an increased rating for acne vulgaris. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to active service.

The VA granted a 60 percent disability evaluation for psoriasis effective April 26, 2005. Prior to that date, the veteran's claim was denied.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for residuals of hemorrhoidectomies and tinea pedis with Schamberg's disease were denied. The conditions are currently rated as 30 percent disabling each.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected major depressive disorder and for obtaining any relevant treatment records.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected dermatitis of both hands, currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's psoriasis is currently rated at 60 percent effective August 30, 2002. The RO confirmed and continued the 50 percent rating prior to that date.