Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for an increased rating for psoriatic arthritis, dermatitis with blepharitis and recurrent chalazion, and depression. The appeal is pending further action by the RO.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of an injury to the right foot do not warrant a higher than 20 percent disability rating, and his pseudofolliculitis barbae does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent. The current evaluations are deemed appropriate based on the clinical evidence.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise, finding that the veteran's bilateral tinea pedis with onychomycosis was incurred in service due to cold exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a laceration of the right foot and granted service connection for bilateral tinea pedis. The claim for a compensable evaluation for residuals of a stab and laceration of the liver was also denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for psoriasis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of periods of active duty and inactive duty training in the Missouri Air National Guard.

The veteran's service-connected low back disorder is productive of not more than slight impairment with limitation of motion, no ankylosis, and no sciatic nerve involvement or other neurological component objectively shown. The skin disability has been recharacterized as eczema with residual skin discoloration and tinea pedis but remains noncompensable.

The veteran's tinea pedis is currently rated at 10 percent, and his bilateral pes planus remains at the current rating of 50 percent since March 29, 2006. The decision grants these ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral tinea pedis, but granted his claim for a higher initial disability rating of 20 percent for his back disorder.

The Board found that the veteran's generalized dermatitis and folliculitis do not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether the veteran's psoriatic arthritis is related to service-connected psoriasis.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected skin disability (tinea versicolor), finding that his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the evidence provided.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected dissecting folliculitis does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent, as there is no evidence of ulceration, extensive exfoliation or crusting, visible or palpable tissue loss, or systemic manifestations.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background, and the Board finds that a TDIU is not in order.

The Board granted the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for seborrheic dermatitis since October 22, 2005 and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for anxiety disorder. The hypertension claim was granted on a secondary basis to his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for prostate disorder and skin disorder, finding no new and material evidence to reopen these claims. The claim of PTSD was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, skin rash (claimed as secondary to Agent Orange exposure), and diabetes mellitus. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service or Agent Orange exposure.

The VA has determined that the veteran's tinea cruris/corporis does not meet or exceed the criteria for a higher initial disability rating beyond 30 percent.

The veteran's chronic inflammatory acne of the back is granted service connection due to exposure to Agent Orange during his Vietnam service. Raynaud's syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus with antiphospholid antibody syndrome are not found to have onset or be related to service, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The veteran's claim for higher ratings for eczema of the face and neck was denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to September 26, 2006, or for a rating in excess of 60 percent since then.