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

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for the veteran's tinea versicolor, effective October 28, 2005. The condition affects more than 40 percent of the entire body.

The veteran's service-connected tinea pedis and tinea manum with onychomycosis of the toenails are currently characterized by extensive exfoliation or crusting, warranting a 50% evaluation. The veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is currently productive of moderate intervertebral disc syndrome, with recurring attacks, and moderate limitation of motion of the lumbar spine.

The Board found no evidence of an undiagnosed illness or qualifying chronic disability for the claimed conditions, and thus denied service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his conditions did not meet the criteria for compensable evaluations under VA rating criteria.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his atopic dermatitis and mood disorder, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a skin disability other than tinea pedis, and therefore denied service connection for a skin disability. The Board also noted that there is no evidence of chloracne or porphyria cutanea tarda within one year from the last date of exposure to herbicide agents.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinea pedis, finding that the condition did not meet criteria for higher ratings under either the old or new rating criteria.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board had no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a laceration scar on the dorsum of the right hand and assigned a 10 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability of the face and head, as well as his claim for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that the veteran had a skin disability in service or that it was related to service.

The veteran's dyshidrotic eczema is manifested by extensive lesions covering 20 to 40 percent of his body with constant itching, exudation, and some crusting. The Board has determined that a 30 percent rating is appropriate under the revised criteria for eczema.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae is being remanded due to the failure of the veteran to appear for a scheduled examination. The case will be readjudicated after the requested development.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected dermatitis was denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The veteran's service connection claim for eczema was denied. His cystic acne of the face, back, chest, shoulder and left leg is currently rated at 30%. The residuals of his injury to the right index finger are also rated at 10%.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinea cruris (groin rash) was incurred during his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or non-specific dermatitis that is related to his active service. The evidence shows no hearing loss meeting VA criteria for a disability and no skin disorders currently diagnosed as being linked to service.

The veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is related to service, and the Board has ordered a remand for further examination and development.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a skin disability, to include chloracne, attributable to service or due to exposure to an herbicide agent. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a residual scar from excision of a right post-auricle sebaceous cyst. The claim for an increased rating for chronic eczema remains denied as the veteran's condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or new Diagnostic Code 7806.

The Board found that there is no competent evidence of current chronic conditions for the claimed disabilities and denied service connection for all issues.