Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2006

The VA determined that the veteran's tinea pedis does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, as it affects less than 5% of his body or exposed areas and no intermittent systemic therapy is required.

The Board has determined that the veteran's headaches are service-connected, but his athlete's foot, left hip disorder, and neck/shoulder spasms are not. The evidence is in relative equipoise for the headache claim.

The veteran is found to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to multiple nonservice-connected disabilities, including depression, peptic ulcer disease with gastritis, Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the knees, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, a low back disorder, dermatitis, seizure disorder, and hypertension. The veteran is entitled to special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of emotional instability reaction, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The initial evaluation assigned for his service-connected duodenal ulcer disease was also denied.

The veteran is seeking an increased disability rating for his service-connected eczema. The Board has remanded the case to obtain a more recent VA examination and to consider both schedular and extraschedular criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for dermatitis and bullous pemphigoid, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran is seeking to reopen his service connection claims for bilateral pes planus and tinea pedis. The RO must provide a corrective VCAA notice, review the new and material claims, and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case if any benefit sought on appeal remains denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for eczema and bilateral hearing loss were denied, while his earlier effective date claim for tinnitus was remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence submitted by the appellant.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 60 percent rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae, finding that no increase in disability was factually ascertainable within the year preceding October 9, 2002.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, including tinea pedis, tinea versicolor, and tinea corporis (claimed as a skin rash), is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's facial acne does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as it does not affect more than 20 to 40 percent of the face or require systemic therapy such as corticosteroids. The current 10% disability rating remains appropriate.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder, including as secondary to herbicide exposure. The issue of an initial rating higher than 40 percent for diabetes mellitus was also denied.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a left knee disability or skin disorder of the feet incurred in service and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's application for an increased rating for folliculitis, groin is denied.,Service connection for sleep apnea and COPD are not addressed in the decision summary provided.

The Board denied a disability rating greater than 10 percent for tinea pedis, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not warrant such a higher rating based on the criteria provided.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to lack of in-service exposure and the denial of a compensable rating for tinea pedis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to procedural issues.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The claims will be reconsidered after the additional development.

The Board found that the veteran's death was due to lung cancer, which is presumed to be related to his tobacco use. The RO initially granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death based on nicotine dependence but later severed this award as it was determined that claims filed after June 8, 1998, are precluded by law.