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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of the record, including obtaining treatment records from the Roudebush VAMC since October 2008.

The Court vacated the Board's decision and remanded the case for further development regarding service connection claims for a cervical spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral pes planus is granted. For his tinea pedis with onychomycosis, he receives staged ratings of 0% prior to March 2, 2004; 30% from March 2, 2004 to June 1, 2005; and 0% thereafter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's dermatitis had its onset in service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's acne did not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's chronic fungal dermatitis is not productive of extensive lesions or marked disfigurement, does not encompass 20 to 40 percent of the body or exposed areas affected, and does not require systemic therapy such as corticosteroids. Therefore, an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for this condition is denied.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's dermatitis, which affects at least 5 percent but less than 20 percent of exposed areas and does not require intermittent systemic therapy.

The Veteran's service connection claims have been granted for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, left cheek cyst excision (residuals), eczema (dry skin), and several musculoskeletal disorders. The initial evaluations assigned are all 10 percent.

The Veteran's skin disability, claimed as a rash, is not service connected due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to his active duty service. The Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and there is no credible evidence of exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected skin disability affecting the groin region was denied as he failed to appear for a scheduled VA examination, and no good cause was provided.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an orthopedic examination to assess the impact of his service-connected right ankle disability on employment. The Veteran will also be referred to a vocational rehabilitation counselor to determine if he meets the criteria for Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation benefits.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinea pedis and cruris, as well as lumbosacral strain, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA disability rating schedule.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his shrapnel wound to the abdomen and stasis dermatitis of the right lower leg were denied. The VA found that the current conditions did not warrant an increase in disability ratings.

The Veteran seeks increased evaluations for his service-connected left shoulder disability and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, conduct VA examinations, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss and granted it. The claims for sleep apnea, chloracne, and erectile dysfunction have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of eczema or pseudofolliculitis barbae, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions. The claim for a bilateral knee disorder is also denied as there is no evidence linking shin splints to the knees.

The Veteran's hypertension and psoriasis of the scalp were not incurred in service, but the current rating for psoriasis is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be incurred in service and granted. The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable evaluation for acne vulgaris with acne rosacea as well as folliculitis is dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal.