Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2009

The Board has granted service connection for tinea pedis and onychomycosis of the feet, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service. The issue of residuals of trauma to the nose remains pending.

The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis is currently rated at 10 percent, effective December 13, 2005. The claim for an earlier effective date was granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, hypertension, and tinea pedis were denied as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's tinea cruris with a history of tinea versicolor is currently rated at 30 percent effective April 4, 1994. The Board has also granted a 30 percent rating prior to August 30, 2002.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disorder, dermatitis of the elbows and feet, actinic keratosis, status post excision of squamous cell carcinoma of the left upper arm, and an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran died of malignant melanoma, a condition not service-connected. His death is not considered to be due to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor disability is productive of a rash consisting of splotchy round and oval pruritic lesions on the back, neck, chest, and shoulders. The condition does not cover more than 20 percent of the body or more than 20 percent of exposed areas affected, and it does not require systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs for its control. A rating of 10 percent is granted for tinea versicolor prior to May 18, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed skin disability, chronic dermatitis, is related to his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psoriasis is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of TDIU, finding that the Veteran was not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities prior to July 1, 1997.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including providing proper notification letters and ensuring compliance with the requirements of Kent v. Nicholson.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his pseudofolliculitis barbae did not meet criteria for a higher rating. The Board also found no new evidence to reopen claims for right thumb disability, lung scarring, hypertension, or PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and there is no evidence of exceptional or unusual circumstances that would render him unemployable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinea pedis and onychomycosis of the feet warrants a rating of 30 percent effective as of March 5, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the appeal is dismissed as the issues are not properly presented.

The Veteran's service-connected acne vulgaris is currently manifested by minor lesions on his ear, neck, and buttocks. The VA examiner found that the condition does not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence of psoriasis in service or related to an incident in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for psoriasis is denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the claims of service connection for PTSD and tinea pedis, as well as the evaluation in excess of 40 percent for diabetes mellitus with non-compensable evaluations of diabetic retinopathy and cataracts. The case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for multiple epidermal inclusion cysts with acne vulgaris has been remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for tinea versicolor and service connection for hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including providing VCAA notification, rescheduling VA examinations, obtaining Social Security Administration records, and requesting VA medical records.