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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder other than chloracne or tinea pedis was denied as there is no current diagnosis of such condition and the evidence does not support a finding that his symptoms are related to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for essential hypertension and chloracne, finding that his conditions did not warrant higher than a 10 percent rating. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was also denied as it is encompassed within the denial of the other two issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and readjudicating the claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin disorders, lung disorder including COPD, and hypertension due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening any of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate evidence in the current record.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims for psoriasis, eczema, erythema multiforme and dermatitis herpetiformis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are denied as there is no evidence to support the assertions of secondary service connection or a direct relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hives and rash on extremities and face were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as they have been attributed to known diagnoses. Service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Veteran's recurrent major depressive disorder associated with psoriasis was granted a 70 percent evaluation from February 2, 2008. The rating for post-traumatic myositis ossificans of the right elbow and lumbar strain with traumatic arthritis remains unchanged.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for urticaria with neurodermatitis and eczema requires additional development before it can be decided on the merits.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss, cardiovascular disorder, diabetes mellitus, skin disorder, or PTSD. The claims are denied as service connection is not granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence received since the June 2001 rating decision does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate any of the claims and does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating any of the claims.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to assess her ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment given her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The initial evaluations for his bilateral heel tendonitis/fasciitis and eczematoid dermatitis/onychomycosis were denied.

The Veteran's PFB is manifested by subjective complaints of burning, itching and pain. The evidence does not show any of the characteristics of disfigurement or intermittent systemic therapy required for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7806. Therefore, the claim for an increased rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae was denied.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for tinea cruris and service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service causation or aggravation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and otitis media. The decision also addressed other issues such as gastritis, a right thumb injury, folliculitis barbae, seizure disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. No new evidence was found to reopen the claim for hearing loss.

The Veteran's pre-existing acne worsened during military service and resulted in scarring, which the Board finds to be a result of disease aggravation. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has restored the Veteran's service connection for chloracne as secondary to Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam, finding that severance of this connection was not proper.