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

The Board denied the claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, left eye laceration, and chloracne as there was no evidence of current conditions related to service.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative changes of the right knee, as there was no evidence to support a direct link between the Veteran's current condition and his period of active service.

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine prior to February 4, 2008 and a 30 percent evaluation for calcaneal spurs of both feet. However, no increased ratings were granted for seborrheah dermatitis or bronchitis.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for a dental disability and psoriasis of the right hand, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim for the dental disability and that there was no evidence linking the psoriasis to the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right hand injury.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder, bilateral foot disorder, neck disorder, and bilateral hip disability are remanded for further development. The claim for tinnitus is also remanded as it may be related to in-service noise exposure. The claim for service connection for hearing loss is reopened but requires additional evidence.

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has chronic chloracne and whether it is related to his service in Vietnam.

The Board remands the claim for a higher rating for contact dermatitis to the RO for further development and adjudication.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 60 percent rating for his service-connected psoriasis with secondary skin cancer due to PUVA treatment was denied as there is no evidence that an increase in disability had occurred prior to May 18, 2006.

The veteran's impotence is service-connected as secondary to his PTSD. The veteran's skin conditions are also service-connected, but no evidence supports a connection to the Persian Gulf War or any other specific exposure.

The veteran's tinea versicolor did not warrant a compensable evaluation from November 26, 2001 through August 7, 2007, and the 30 percent evaluation assigned for it since August 8, 2007 was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's attempts to reopen claims for service connection for chloracne, coronary artery disease (CAD), and vision problems due to a lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for neurogenic dermatitis due to six weeks or more, but not constant, steroid treatment during the past twelve months.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a compensable rating were denied, with the exception of grants of 10% and 20% ratings for tinea versicolor and chronic lumbosacral strain, respectively.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and tinea corporis, as there was no credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors or a causal relationship between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The veteran's skin disability was rated at 30 percent beginning July 23, 2002, due to constant itching, pigment changes, and macular lesions about the groin, hands, and feet.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of right knee sprain and a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his left knee and skin conditions were denied, as well as his claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, gout of the right toe, low back disorder, and sleep disorder.

The Board denied service connection for angiolipomas, chloracne, and soft tissue sarcoma as the evidence did not demonstrate a current disability of these conditions or a relationship to active service.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for service-connected diplopia was denied due to his failure, without good cause, to report for a VA examination which was necessary for an informed adjudication of the claim.

The case is remanded for additional development of the evidence, including requests for service treatment records from the Veteran's Reserve and National Guard units.