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

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional information and evidence, including VA examinations for employment issues and records related to his Federal disability retirement. The claims for service connection of various conditions and an increased rating for intervertebral disc disease are also pending.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death from cardiopulmonary arrest and lung cancer. The claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, PTSD, and residuals of head injury with headaches. The initial evaluations for these conditions have been set at 10 percent each.

The veteran's claims for psoriasis, Type II diabetes mellitus, essential hypertension, and generalized arthritis are being remanded due to the need for a personal hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for dermatographia and PTSD. The veteran was granted a 50% rating for his PTSD, effective October 22, 2003.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for chloracne, finding no current diagnosis of the condition and thus denying presumptive service connection based on Agent Orange exposure. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for major affective disorder with PTSD was also considered but not granted.

The veteran's service connection claim for recurrent dermatitis of the feet is granted. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be remanded to determine its relationship to service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his service-connected conditions.

The veteran's skin disorder of the hands, including dermatitis and eczema, was not found to be related to service or secondary to herbicide exposure. As a result, his claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Pseudofolliculitis Barbae.,Service connection for these conditions is denied as there are no current diagnoses.

The veteran's tinea cruris with a history of tinea versicolor was denied an increased rating prior to August 30, 2002 and from August 30, 2002. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7806.

The veteran's service-connected lymphoma excision scar on the mid anterior right leg is small and barely visible, not causing any functional impairment.,The veteran's service-connected left foot plantar wart does not cause significant discomfort or objective evidence of plantar warts.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for residuals of prostate cancer, effective from the date of this decision. The veteran's chloracne is currently under consideration and may be service-connected on a direct basis.

The Board has granted service connection for tinea versicolor, finding that the veteran's service in the Persian Gulf environment favored the growth of this chronic skin condition.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and a chronic skin disorder (claimed as tinea pedis and jungle rot), finding that new evidence supports the veteran's reported in-service stressors. Service connection for diabetes mellitus was also granted.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current back disability and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected dermatitis and status post basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma were granted a 60 percent rating. The right knee disability was granted an increased 20 percent rating.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence diagnosing the veteran's claimed conditions until years after his separation from active duty. The preponderance of the competent medical evidence is against a finding that any of these conditions are causally related to his period of active duty.

The veteran's tinea cruris and tinea versicolor were rated at a 30% for the period from January 28, 2004 to January 28, 2005. For all other periods, they are not compensable.