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

The Board denied service connection for a skin disability of the hands and feet, finding no evidence of chronicity in service. The veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for a right eye disability due to lack of chronicity in service. The examiner opined that the macular hole may be secondary to laser exposure during active duty.

The Board found that the veteran's skin disability, diagnosed as tinea corporis, is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his active service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, low back strain, and tinea cruris. The issues include seeking higher evaluations for these conditions as well as obtaining an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability, including as due to an undiagnosed illness, and for neurodermatitis. The veteran's skin condition has been attributed to a known clinical diagnosis and is not related to active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his service-connected bilateral tinea pedis with recurrent infection and a request for an earlier effective date for service connection of tinea versicolor.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to issues related to service connection, including new and material evidence claims. The veteran's hypertension and psoriasis of the scalp are still under consideration.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and folliculitis, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from the veteran's former employers and a VA dermatology examination. The issue remains on appeal regarding service connection for dermatitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinea versicolor is related to service and grants the claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for scalp lesions, allergies, prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia, bilateral knee arthritis, and bilateral ankle arthritis are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection is granted for scalp lesions (including folliculitis decalvans, lichen planopilaris, and scarring alopecia).

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinea pedis, onychomycosis of the toes, and tinea unguium of the hands as his service-connected skin conditions do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, with a current combined rating of 70 percent disabling, results in an inability to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience.

The veteran's service-connected tinea manus of the hands and forearms with tinea pedis of the bilateral feet is currently rated at 60 percent, which reflects a significant coverage (more than 40% of entire body or exposed areas) and requires systemic therapy such as corticosteroids. The rating has been granted.

The Board denied service connection for dermatitis and dermatophytosis, as well as residuals of acid in the eyes. The veteran's skin disability was attributed to known clinical diagnoses, and there is no evidence of radiation, herbicide, or asbestos exposure. For the acid in the eyes issue, there is no current evidence of residual disabilities.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for chloracne of the face, finding that it is attributable to herbicide exposure during his service in Vietnam.

The veteran's claim for service connection for chloracne is granted. The initial evaluations for diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction are maintained at 20%.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, right ear was reopened and the claim is denied.,The medical evidence does not establish a current disability related to viral gastroenteritis (claimed as a stomach disorder).,The determination that the veteran's tinea corporis resolved without residuals does not establish any fact necessary to substantiate the claim for service connection, and does not constitute new and material evidence to reopen the claim.,There is no provision of the laws governing veterans' benefits which authorizes a grant of service connection to the veteran for his child's toe deformity on the basis of exposure to chemicals in Southeast Asia.,The medical determination that the veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome does not establish any fact necessary to substantiate the claim for service connection, and does not constitute new and material evidence to reopen the claim.,There is no provision of the laws governing veterans' benefits which authorizes a grant of service connection to the veteran for an immune system disorder.,The absence of medical evidence of any chronic qualifying disability or undiagnosed disorder does not establish any fact necessary to substantiate a claim for service connection, and does not constitute new and material evidence to reopen the claim.,Medical evidence obtained which demonstrates assignment of current diagnoses of PTSD, major depression, and psychosis by VA examiners and providers is new, since such evidence was not of record at the time of the prior final denial and is material, since it establishes previously unestablished facts necessary for adjudication of claims for service connection.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 60 percent for nodular cystic acne, which is the highest schedular rating available. The veteran's service-connected nodular cystic acne covers more than 40 percent of his entire body during flare-ups.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his treatment records and compliance with VCAA notice requirements.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for right kidney disability, nodules on face, chest, testicles, legs, neck and nose (including sebaceous cyst), chloracne, and left lung cancer. The appeal is not about service connection at all.