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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chloracne and a chronic respiratory disability, finding no evidence of these conditions during service or a link to service.

The Board denied service connection for pulmonary fibrosis and remanded the issue of an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for dermatitis of the hands.

The Board found that the evidence did not support an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals of prostate cancer, status-post radical retropubic prostatectomy, or a compensable initial evaluation for acne vulgaris/chloracne.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected conditions, finding that the evidence did not support higher evaluations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a skin disability, characterized as dermatitis.

The Board denied service connection for psoriasis, a liver disorder, hepatitis C, a thyroid nodule, residuals of asbestos exposure, residuals of exposure to ionizing radiation, residuals of herbicide exposure, and prostate cancer as the conditions were not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of cold-weather injury in both feet, hypertension, tinea pedis, a cervical spine disorder, and bilateral tinnitus as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle sprain, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), arthritis of the bilateral hands, wrists, elbows and left ankle, and fibromyalgia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for congestive cardiomyopathy, including hypertension, and an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran was granted a 10 percent evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The appeal was denied as the Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae did not meet the criteria for a disability rating higher than 30 percent.

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence was against the claim for service connection for psoriasis, to include as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's atopic dermatitis of the hands and feet does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it affects less than 5% of the exposed body area and total body area, and requires no more than topical therapy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, cervical spine disability, psoriasis, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a continuity of treatment or a medical nexus between his military service and these conditions.

The appeal is remanded to obtain additional evidence and an opinion regarding the Veteran's psoriasis.

The Board denied service connection for allergic dermatitis/cutanea tarda and lymphadenopathy as they were not shown to be related to the Veteran's active duty service, including alleged exposure to herbicides.

The appeal for an increased initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for a migraine headache disorder and right shoulder bursitis was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Veteran's service-connected dermatophytosis of the right foot is currently asymptomatic and does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, hypertension, and eczema, as well as service connection for heart palpitations.

The Veteran's folliculitis did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent, as it never involved more than 5 percent of the entire body or exposed areas and did not require systemic therapy with corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs.

The Veteran's psoriasis did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent prior to September 30, 2004, and higher than 60 percent thereafter. The facial psoriasis was not compensable.