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

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disorder, including chronic lipomas and photodermatitis, as incurred during active military service.

The veteran's service connection claims for tinea versicolor and hypertension were granted, while the remaining conditions were denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU were denied. His claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected peripheral vascular disease of the left lower extremity was also denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinea versicolor is being remanded to provide him with proper VCAA notice and to schedule a new examination during hot weather months.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, eczema, a knee disorder, right shoulder tendonitis, and joint stiffness due to undiagnosed illness. The appellant's PTSD was rated 70 percent effective February 20, 2004, with an additional increase to 100 percent as of December 31, 2007, for the migraine headache disability prior to June 9, 2005, and a non-compensable evaluation thereafter.

The veteran's service connection for PTSD was granted, and a 10 percent rating was assigned for the service-connected dyshidrotic eczema of the hands.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disease, to include chloracne due to herbicide exposure, as there is no competent evidence of a nexus between the current skin disorder and service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, and chloracne as the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or a nexus to service.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of additional evidence.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and adjudication of the veteran's claims.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a disorder manifested by insomnia was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disease, including chloracne, as there was no competent medical evidence or diagnosis of chloracne at any time during or after service, and diagnoses of tinea versicolor dermatitis and/or ringworm originating in 2002 were not related causally to any incident, injury or exposure during the veteran's military service over 30 years earlier.

The veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date was dismissed as it is not authorized by law.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a foot rash, to include tinea pedis, was remanded for further development including an examination and opinion on the etiology of any current foot rash.

The appeal for service connection for cystic acne was withdrawn by the veteran, and thus the issue is dismissed.

The veteran's claims for a higher rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae and to reopen service connection for a skin disorder, claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure, are being remanded for further development.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and a compensable rating for chloracne was denied as there is no evidence of the condition prior to December 8, 2000, and the current manifestations do not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected skin condition does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating, as it affects less than 20 percent of his entire body and exposed areas, and has not required systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs.

The Board concluded that the veteran's preexisting psoriasis did not chronically worsen during his active military service and denied service connection for psoriasis.

The veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for his skin disorder from February 28, 2005, to May 9, 2007, and the rating remained at 10 percent after May 10, 2007.