Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2008

The Board has granted service connection for atopic dermatitis, which includes asteatotic eczema. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for entitlement to service connection for multiple sclerosis is remanded.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected dermatitis of the feet, which involves less than 20 percent of the body and exposed areas. The condition does not require treatment other than intermittent use of antifungal medication and antibiotics during flare-ups.

The Board denied all service connection claims, finding that the veteran did not have a psychiatric disorder in service or develop one later. The chronic sinusitis claim was also denied as there is no evidence of current sinusitis related to service. Other conditions were not found to be service-connected.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis or continuity of symptomatology related to the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is related to his active service and grants the claim.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his chronic alcohol abuse is a separate condition and the VA compensation examiner determined he could work due to other factors such as a civilian-related ankle injury. The combined rating of his service-connected conditions does not meet the threshold for a TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for nummular eczema, rheumatoid arthritis with polyarthralgia, and polymyalgia due to an undiagnosed illness. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service or an undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's residuals of a right ankle injury and lumbar spine strain are rated at the maximum allowable under VA rating criteria. The veteran is granted separate ratings for vitiligo with nummular dermatitis.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain has not met the criteria for a compensable rating since January 15, 2005. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's psoriasis was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty, nor may its incurrence or aggravation during such service be presumed. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for eczema, foot deformities, and edema of the right ankle. Service connection for retinopathy is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's skin disorder, including urticaria and perivascular dermatitis consistent with erythema annulare centrifugum, did not result from his service in Iraq. The evidence showed no connection between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any psychiatric disability, diabetic retinopathy (blurred vision), chloracne and porphyria cutanea, or peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities for purposes of establishing service connection.,Regarding erectile dysfunction, the evidence is insufficient to establish its etiology.

The Board finds that the evidence of record is sufficient to warrant an increased rating of 50 percent for the service-connected depression. However, in light of recent evidence submitted by the veteran, the issue of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 50 percent must be REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC), in Washington, DC.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected chloracne warrants an initial 10 percent disability evaluation, effective from August 15, 2005.

The veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities and other conditions were denied.,Service connection was not established for fibromyalgia, residuals of a back injury, diabetes mellitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sleep apnea, chronic pain, atypical chest pain, psoriasis, arthritis of multiple joints, or cervical spine disability.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and denied service connection for seborrheic dermatitis.

The VA denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for tinea versicolor as there was no evidence that the condition covered twenty to forty percent of the body or required systemic therapy.

The Board has determined that the veteran's skin rash, now diagnosed as eczematous dermatitis, began during his service in Saudi Arabia and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for service connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and granted service connection for PTSD, but denied his secondary service connection claims for hypertension, sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and a skin condition. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide VA examinations.