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

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, PTSD; a cardiovascular disorder, hypertension; a spine disorder; residuals of a head injury; and chloracne. The veteran served in Vietnam but there is no indication that his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the right foot ulcer and related complications are not related to service, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for acne keloidalis nuchae and a scar, status post perianal fistulotomy. The conditions are currently rated as they were initially granted.

The Board found that the veteran's skin disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA Schedule of Ratings.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death prior to the issuance of the July 2006 Board remand.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for tinea pedis and a skin disorder (variously diagnosed as dermatitis and urticaria) has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran.

The veteran's claim for a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied as there is no provision for separate ratings for each ear. The veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities was also denied because the evidence did not show he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a left eye pterygium and denied service connection for a skin disorder. Service connection for a neurological disorder of the feet is remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates for his service-connected lumbosacral strain, cervical strain, right knee strain with patella bursitis, left knee strain with patella bursitis, and pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, and denied his requests for increased ratings for bilateral tinea pedis and tinea unguium, right hallux valgus with hammertoe, and left hallux valgus, status post-surgery.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability of the left leg, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for gout was denied as there is no medical evidence linking the condition to his time in service.,The appeal of the rating for seborrheic dermatitis was dismissed due to a failure to file a timely substantive appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder and an initial disability rating greater than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus. The veteran's claims were based on new evidence that reopened the case, but no specific exposure basis was provided.

The veteran's skin disorder, diagnosed as atopic eczema, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found no evidence of a chronic skin condition during her service and concluded that the current skin disorder is unrelated to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for acne vulgaris and seborrheic dermatitis, finding that there was no current evidence of these conditions. The Board also found that secondary service connection to his already service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae could not be established.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the veteran did not have current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss, bilateral axillary abscesses, or degenerative arthritis in either knee. The veteran also did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his cervical spine or lumbar spine conditions.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease and assigned a 10 percent rating for the residuals of a left heel injury. The compensable initial ratings for the skin graft donor sites have also been granted.

The Board denied service connection for shortness of breath and exposure to chemical nerve agents in the Gulf War, as well as a compensable rating for tinea versicolor of the back. The veteran's tinea versicolor is currently rated at 0 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and a right knee disability, but denied service connection for the status postoperative bilateral vasectomy. The veteran's GERD is currently rated as noncompensable, and his subacute dermatitis of the hands does not meet the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent.