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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for psoriasis and arthritis secondary to psoriasis, finding that the pre-existing psoriasis did not aggravate during service and there was no evidence of a current disability due to service-connected conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a skin disability, including as due to exposure to Agent Orange, and eczema involving the face, neck, and right lower extremity. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and active service or herbicide exposure.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected tinea versicolor, finding that the condition did not warrant a higher than 30 percent evaluation.

The veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his scar of the left foot, were denied increased ratings. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's right and left knee disabilities were not granted increased ratings. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's scar of the left foot was not granted a compensable rating. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's headaches were not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's bilateral pes planus was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's sleep disorder was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's multiple joint pain was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's neurological disorder was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's chest pains were not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's memory loss was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's dizziness was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have all been reopened but are still denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability, finding that PTSD alone did not preclude employment prior to April 1, 2000.

The veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31 of Title 38, United States Code is denied as his existing education and experience are adequate to secure and maintain employment in his chosen field.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have chloracne, bilateral pes planus, seizure disorder, or PTSD that is service-connected. The claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected tinea pedis and corporis warrants a disability rating of 30 percent, effective August 21, 1985.

The veteran's claim for a clothing allowance is granted as he uses Liquor Carbonis Detergent (LCD) prescribed for his service-connected non-Hodgkin's lymphoma-related dermatitis, which causes irreparable damage to his outer garments.

The Board has granted an annual clothing allowance for the veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae, effective from August 30, 2002.

The RO granted service connection and a 30 percent rating for chloracne and acneiform facial scarring, effective August 21, 2003. The veteran's claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted after his initial denial.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, chloracne, skin cirrhosis, and a tumor of the left parotid gland. The veteran was also denied reopening his claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for subacute peripheral neuropathy and chloracne, both of which he claimed were related to his military service exposure to Agent Orange. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions in the medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected tinea pedis and cruris warrants a 10 percent disability rating, as it involves at least 5 percent but less than 20 percent of the entire body or exposed areas affected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's skin disorder, diagnosed as tinea pedis and eczema with residual skin discoloration, does not meet or approximate the requirements for a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for acne vulgaris was denied. The initial higher rating claim for PTSD prior to March 20, 2007 was also denied. However, a higher initial rating of 30% for PTSD beginning March 20, 2007 was granted.,The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 10% before March 20, 2007 and at 30% from that date onwards.

The VA denied the appellant's claim for an increased rating for his dermatitis disability, as it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Board found that tinea pedis was noted on entrance into service and did not increase in severity during service beyond the natural progression of the disorder. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.