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

The Board found that the veteran's current autoimmune diseases are not causally related to his service-connected rheumatic fever and streptococcal infection, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected tinea infection of the toenails and neurodermatitis of the right foreleg are currently rated at 30 percent, but no higher. The Board finds that there is not sufficient evidence to warrant a higher rating under either the old or new criteria.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for chloracne has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in June 2005.

The Board has determined that the veteran's seborrheic dermatitis does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation, and thus denied his claim for an increased rating.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia and delusional disorder, denied service connection for anxiety disorder, depression, PTSD, and a personality disorder, and denied an increased rating for acne vulgaris. The case is remanded to the RO for further development of the record.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the basic eligibility requirements for a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing or for a special home adaptation grant.

The Board found that the veteran's skin disorder(s) were not incurred as a result of his military service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected tinea pedis with onychomycosis and tinea cruris, finding that the condition causes constant itching, hyperpigmentation, scaling, and maceration of skin of the groin and feet, but does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for psoriasis, finding that it is secondary to the veteran's service-connected perianal and periscrotal cysts. The claim for an increased rating for the cysts remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's groin rash and foot fungus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred during active service. As a result, the claims for service connection are denied.

The veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 18, 2001 for service connection for allergic rhinitis and pseudofolliculitis barbae are denied. The Board has also remanded the remaining issues of entitlement to service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic stasis dermatitis of the lower extremities is not related to his service-connected burn scar of the left ankle, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's current skin disorder, tinea corporis, began in service and is related to a fungal infection shown during service. The claim for service connection was granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain and acne vulgaris, finding that her symptoms did not warrant a higher evaluation based on the criteria at the time.

The veteran's combined service-connected disability evaluation is 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for additional compensation for dependents.

The veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD has been reopened, and he is granted a combined evaluation of 60 percent for pension purposes due to his nonservice-connected disabilities. His PTSD is rated as direct service connection, while the other conditions are assigned separate ratings.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, arthritis of the shoulders and left knee, and stasis dermatitis as secondary to his service-connected furunculosis with scars.

The veteran's tinea versicolor was rated as noncompensable prior to August 30, 2002 and a rating in excess of 10 percent from that date. The veteran's pes planus disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae, which includes raised plaques with keloid scarring of the scalp measuring 17.5 cm by 8.5 cm, is rated at 50 percent under new rating criteria for dermatophytosis.

The veteran's claim of service connection for a chronic low back disorder with sciatica has been reopened. However, his claim for an increased rating for seborrheic dermatitis remains denied.