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

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining additional service medical records and providing notice of the standards related to reopening previously denied claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current skin disorder was not incurred or aggravated during active military service and cannot be presumed to have been caused by herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for a right leg disorder and an initial compensable rating for seborrheic dermatitis effective from August 30, 2002. The veteran's skin condition was not productive of the required manifestations prior to that date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinea pedis, left foot; swelling of feet; and a compensable evaluation for hearing loss, right ear. The evidence did not support these claims as there was no current diagnosis of any condition in question, and none were found to be related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the veteran's acne vulgaris and to consider both old and new regulations pertaining to skin disorders.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, seborrheic dermatitis, and varicose veins of both lower extremities. The TDIU claim was withdrawn prior to decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's respiratory disorder and acne are not related to service or exposure to Agent Orange, but his chloracne is presumed due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for chest congestion was denied, while service connection for acne (presumptive) was granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee scar was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection. The RO assigned initial ratings of 10 percent for facial acne and zero percent for acne of the chest and back, both under Diagnostic Code 7828.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for eczematous dermatitis, finding no evidence of a current skin disability that is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acne, secondary to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, does not warrant a compensable rating under either the old or new VA rating criteria for skin disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for dermatophytid of the hands and dyshydrotic eczema of the hands and feet, finding that the evidence did not establish a direct link to service or any applicable presumptive period. The veteran's current conditions are found to be proximately due to his service-connected tinea pedis.

The veteran withdrew his appeal of all issues before the Board could make a decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a penile skin disorder and higher initial ratings for his hands and legs conditions.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence of a current disability. The veteran's dyshidrotic dermatitis of the hands, however, was rated at 10 percent effective October 23, 2001.

The Board has granted service connection for a right foot and ankle disorder, identified as chronic Achilles tendonitis and chronic peroneal weakness. The veteran's follicular dermatitis and eczema are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for evaluation of allergic contact dermatitis and service connection for coronary arteriosclerotic heart disease, finding that the appeal was not well-grounded.

The veteran died in December 2002 due to pneumonia, aspiration, weakness, and enervation. His service-connected dermatitis was not the cause of death. The appellant is not entitled to VA plot or interment and burial allowances as she did not meet any of the criteria for such benefits.

The March 1988 Board decision granted a 30 percent rating for service-connected pseudofolliculitis, based on the medical evidence provided.

The VA has granted a rating of 30 percent for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) affecting the face since August 30, 2002. The veteran's right hip tendonitis remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings for his service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae, right hamstring disorder, and knee tendonitis. The appeals were based on the criteria set forth in Diagnostic Codes 7806 and 5024.