Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae and scars related to lipoma removal have been granted, with a rating of 30 percent effective September 29, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches and bilateral foot condition are not service-connected. The claim for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's tinea pedis and toenail fungus were granted service connection as direct service connections. The chloracne claim was denied due to lack of evidence meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's exposure to asbestos and Agent Orange, as well as his current psychiatric and sleep disorders. The claims are being remanded for further action.

The Board found that the Veteran's treatment for dermatitis was not of such nature that a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected delay in seeking immediate medical attention to be hazardous to life or health. Therefore, the claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private medical facility on April 19, 2008 is denied.

The Veteran's dermatitis of both feet has not been shown to require any systemic therapy, such as therapeutic doses of corticosteroids, immunosuppressive retinoids, PUVA (psoralen with long-wave ultraviolet-A light) or UVB (ultraviolet-B light) treatments, or electron beam therapy for a total duration of six weeks or more, but not constantly, during the past 12 month period. Therefore, he is not entitled to a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for dermatitis of the face and scalp due to Agent Orange exposure. The Board has ordered a remand to obtain medical records and conduct a VA examination.

The Board has ordered another VA examination to determine if the Veteran's skin disability is related to his military service, including any in-service treatment for dermatitis and a claimed virus exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, finding that his condition is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and thus does not warrant presumptive service connection due to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected skin conditions (tinea unguium, tinea pedis, and tinea versicolor) is being remanded due to the need for additional VA records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for hypotension, claimed as low blood pressure. The Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae and an increased evaluation for left hand dermatitis, id reaction are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and initial compensable disability rating for contact dermatitis were both denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The effective date of the increased rating for mechanical low back pain was not granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a skin condition claimed as tinea cruris, and bronchial asthma. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service or any incident of service origin.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for psoriatic arthritis of multiple joints was granted, with a 10 percent evaluation effective July 13, 2009. The claims for service connection for basal cell carcinoma and the initial rating for that condition were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected upper airway resistance syndrome and hand eczema have not been found to warrant higher initial ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hand disorder and a skin disorder, both related to service. The temporary total evaluation claim is remanded due to the failure to issue a statement of the case.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of all service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lichen simplex chronicus and onychomycosis of the feet were evaluated, but both conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran's skin conditions are currently rated as 10 percent disabling.