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

The veteran's tinea versicolor is manifested by a rash of the face, chin and chest, with hypo and hyperpigmented areas affecting less than 20% of her exposed areas and less than 5% of her total body area. The Board found that the disability did not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions (tinea pedis, low back strain, cervical strain, or residuals of a head injury) that are service-connected. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation and effective date prior to October 17, 2001, for the award of such a rating are both being remanded due to incomplete documentation.

The Board found no evidence of a current thoracic spine disability and denied service connection for thoracic spine pain. Service connection for bilateral knee condition is pending as the claim is still under review.

The Board has granted service connection for seborrheic dermatitis with folliculitis, finding that the veteran's symptoms began during his active duty service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for tinea versicolor and residuals of a fracture of the right thumb, finding that the evidence does not support higher evaluations under applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have chloracne related to service, including due to Agent Orange exposure. Therefore, his claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his skin disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records.

The veteran's eczema/atopic dermatitis warranted a 30 percent evaluation as of June 21, 2004, and the effective date for this rating is set at that time.

The veteran's claims for service connection on the merits were denied. The Board found that his skin disorder did not originate during active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred due to an undiagnosed illness. His joint pain, muscle spasms, and grinding of teeth (bruxism) were also not shown to be related to active service or a chronic undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be service-connected due to lack of evidence linking them to his military service.

The veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae was initially evaluated as noncompensable prior to August 30, 2002. From that date, the condition warranted a 10% evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and migraine headaches, as well as his request for an increased evaluation for right leg sciatica. The veteran was not granted any of these benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus denies his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for acne, HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus), endometriosis, and fibroid tumors. The evidence did not support a finding of these conditions in service or link them to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral lower extremity aneurysm and granted service connection for onychomycosis of the toenails and tinea pedis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's dermatitis was incurred during service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cystic acne and residuals of dental surgery, finding that there was no evidence to support a claim based on direct service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his steroid induced acne, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.