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

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing skin disorder was aggravated during active service and granted service connection for it. The claim for memory loss other than PTSD is denied as not related to service, but the Veteran's PTSD is granted a higher rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's eligibility for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae and flat feet, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and in-service treatment records.

The Veteran's skin condition, rated as psoriasis, was found to warrant a 60 percent disability rating from the date of claim (August 5, 2001) to March 20, 2007. From March 20, 2007 forward, his skin condition warranted a 10 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's psoriasis has been granted service connection. The Board also found that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected psoriasis, but did not make a final determination on this issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acne conglobata is related to in-service herbicide exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting acne was aggravated by service, and therefore grants service connection for acne.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, eczema, sleep disturbance, headaches, gastrointestinal disability (GERD), muscle and joint pain, and lumbar degenerative disc disease, were denied as the evidence does not support a relationship to service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine and lumbar spine disorders, and did not assign a rating for the Veteran's skin disorder (tinea versicolor) as it was found to be less than five percent of his entire body or exposed areas affected.

The Veteran's skin condition, diagnosed as chloracne and epidermal cyst, was not shown during service or within the first post-service year. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that any currently diagnosed skin condition is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected atopic dermatitis and its impact on his employability.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for headaches, the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 8100. The other issues remain unchanged with noncompensable ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including examinations to assess his cystic acne and right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's respiratory disability is not service-connected, and the claims to reopen for tinea cruris and PTSD are denied.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and exposures, but the specific service connection decisions are pending as the case is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran seeks reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred for private ambulance travel on December 7, 2005. The Board has determined that the claim must be remanded to obtain necessary records and determine whether the Veteran was enrolled in the VA health care system at the time of the emergency treatment.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected allergic contact dermatitis and miliaria rubra, as well as his claim for individual unemployability due to PTSD, are being remanded for additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran's nonspecific dermatitis and COPD are not related to his active service, with no current evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board found no evidence of a current skin condition related to service or herbicide exposure, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.