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

The veteran's right shoulder disorder is rated at 10% due to arthritis and painful motion. Service connection for facial acne, bipolar disorder (claimed as major depression), and gastritis are all granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher initial rating of 10 percent for nummular eczema, finding that her condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the former or revised applicable diagnostic codes. The veteran was assigned an initial 10 percent rating effective June 18, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 20, 2004 for his TDIU award. The effective date was fixed based on when he filed his informal claim for TDIU.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected dorsal and lumbar scoliosis, postoperative condition does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent. The combined disability evaluation is 40 percent, which corresponds to the current 40 percent schedular evaluation. As such, the claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's skin disability, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent as it does not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and a skin disorder (claimed as pseudofolliculitis barbae) due to lack of evidence showing the disorders were incurred in or aggravated by active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected dermatitis of both feet does not warrant a compensable rating as it does not cover 5 percent or more of the entire body or exposed areas, nor has it required more than topical therapy during the past 12 months.

The Board has granted higher evaluations for the appellant's service-connected chronic photodermatitis and residuals of a cyst behind his right ear, effective from June 10, 2005, and August 7, 2000 respectively. The current appeal is limited to these two conditions.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of excised melanoma and psoriasis due to presumed Agent Orange exposure, but did not address the claim for bone spurs of the bilateral feet. The veteran's low back disability was granted an increased rating.

The Board found that chloracne did not originate in service and is not related to any incident of service, including exposure to herbicides. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for nummular eczema, the maximum allowable under VA's rating criteria. The veteran is not entitled to service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, knee and back arthritis, tinea pedis, and tinea cruris. The Board also found that his hyperlipidemia was not related to his military service, hepatitis C was not incurred in service, and PTSD was not shown to be linked to active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a skin condition, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board denied an evaluation higher than the current 30 percent for asthma and did not grant a TDIU, finding that the veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran expressed his desire to withdraw his appeal concerning the issue of entitlement to service connection for chloracne. The case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions related to service and therefore denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected skin conditions increased in severity to warrant a 30% disability rating effective November 9, 2004. The effective date of October 11, 2005 is granted as it was within one year of receipt of his claim for an increase.

The Board has granted service connection for impingement syndrome of the left shoulder and denied claims for increased ratings for headaches and folliculitis.

The Board has determined that the January 1974 decision to sever service connection for acne vulgaris was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and thus denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date.

The Board denied service connection for tinea versicolor and a right ankle strain, finding that the veteran had not submitted new and material evidence to reopen his claims.