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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and an increased rating for duodenal ulcer disease, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 30, 1989 for a 50 percent rating for psoriasis vulgaris with superimposed lichen simplex. The claim for higher ratings is denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral flat foot and an initial compensable rating for tinea pedis, finding that the evidence did not support a grant of either claim.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's dental disorder, skin rashes including heat rashes, chronic dermatitis, acne, and acrochordons, and chronic fatigue are related to his active duty service. The appeal is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's appeal is dismissed as he withdrew his claims for service connection of eczema, including claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure; entitlement to an earlier effective date for service connection of peripheral neuropathy of left lower extremity and entitlement to an earlier effective date for service connection of peripheral neuropathy of right lower extremity.

The veteran's service-connected eczematoid dermatitis is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition and determine if an increased evaluation is warranted.

The veteran seeks service connection for chloracne, which he claims is related to his military service and exposure to herbicides. The RO denied the claim based on a lack of evidence showing that the condition was incurred in service or due to exposure to herbicides. The Board has ordered additional development including obtaining service medical records, private treatment records, and confirming any corroborated exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chloracne, peripheral neuropathy, porphyria cutanea tarda, skin cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin's Disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, cancer of the sinuses, respiratory cancer, cancer of the mouth with blindness, and prostate cancer are not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disorder and skin disorders, including psoriasis and actinic keratosis, are not related to his military service. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his time in Vietnam or any other exposure basis.

The veteran's skin condition was not related to his service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a skin disability during service or for many years thereafter, and concluded that the veteran's current skin condition is not related to his service-connected bronchial asthma. Therefore, service connection for skin disability was denied.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic skin disability in service or for many years following separation from service, and the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the veteran's current skin problems are related to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for psoriasis of the buttocks, finding that there is no medical evidence linking current psoriasis to any period of military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected facial acne with residual scarring.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed as the veteran withdrew her appeals. The claim for an effective date prior to June 6, 2000 for fibromyalgia is denied. Separate compensable evaluations for heel spurs are also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss, as well as a higher rating for psoriasis. The evidence did not establish current disabilities that meet VA compensation criteria.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a fracture of the right ankle, a right wrist disability, a left wrist disability, a low back disability, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The evidence does not support these claims as there is no current diagnosis or showing of such disabilities.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a hearing before a member of the Board. After the hearing, the claims folder will be returned to the Board for further review.

The VA determined that the veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as his condition did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under either the old or new rating criteria.