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

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches, but denied an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for seborrheic dermatitis.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for additional medical development and evidentiary review.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from various sources.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for neurodermatitis on the face and forearms, as well as sinusitis, were denied.

The veteran's PTSD was granted a total disability rating beginning October 1, 2003, but not earlier. The claim for an effective date prior to February 11, 2003, for the grant of a 70 percent rating for PTSD was denied.

The veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to the severity of his service-connected disabilities, specifically bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's chronic eczema was rated at 30 percent, and his right and left knee DJD were each rated at 20 percent from February 27, 2007.

The appeal is being remanded to obtain additional evidence, including records from the veteran's VA and private treatment providers.

The veteran's atopic dermatitis covers less than 1.0 percent of his entire body, does not involve an exposed area, and requires only topical therapy for treatment, which is insufficient to warrant a compensable rating.

The veteran's chronic lumbar strain is rated at 20 percent, but no higher, for symptoms that are not productive of more than moderate limitation of motion on functional use. The other conditions were found to not warrant a compensable rating.

The veteran was granted service connection for Hepatitis C, but the claim for chloracne was denied.

The appeal is remanded to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development, including obtaining additional evidence and a medical opinion regarding the veteran's skin disorders.

The veteran's tinea corporis was rated at 30 percent initially, but increased to 60 percent from September 15, 2006 through September 9, 2008 due to the extent of skin affected.

The Board remands the case for further development, including a skin examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current skin disorder.

The veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae was rated at 30 percent, but no higher. Other claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus disability, residuals of left knee injury, residuals of left thumb injury, residuals of cervical sprain, and residuals of pseudofolliculitis barbae were not reopened as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic skin condition during service or within one year of discharge and that the preponderance of the evidence showed that his current skin condition was not related to his exposure to Agent Orange.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected varicose veins, left knee disability, and skin condition are being remanded for additional VA examinations.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability of the hands and an increased rating for chronic tinea pedis were denied as there was no evidence of current disabilities that could be linked to his military service.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise with regard to the question of whether the veteran suffers from chloracne, or other acneform disease consistent with chloracne, was caused by exposure to Agent Orange.