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

The Board has remanded the claim for a skin condition, including eczema, due to insufficient medical evidence and the need for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and lung cancer, but denied service connection for tinea versicolor due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or presumptive exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability or his active service, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for tinea corporis of the buttocks area, folliculitis, boils, skin tags, and keratosis pilaris or urticaria was denied. The appeal is also denied as to the effective date for service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's dermatitis, including eczema, was incurred in active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic pseudofolliculitis barbae was granted. The issue of service connection for a chronic low back disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated medical records and conducting VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for peptic ulcer disease with esophagitis, gastritis, gastric ulcer, and irritable bowel syndrome. The effective date of this grant is June 6, 2002.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for psoriasis and pes planus was denied. The Veteran's psoriasis is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board found that there was no aggravation of his pre-existing pes planus during service.

The Veteran's service-connected acne, suppurativa does not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and a VA examination regarding his service-connected eczema.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current skin disability, including psoriasis and eczema of the hands, forearms, and elbows, is related to service and grants service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right lower back scar, left eyebrow scar, bilateral wrist disorder, pseudofolliculitis (razor bumps), and bilateral knee disorder have been resolved as the AOJ granted these claims in October 2009. As such, there is no longer an issue of fact or law before the Board pertaining to these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for tinea pedis with onychomycosis and skin disabilities including tinea cruris and tinea corporis, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service. The skin disability is also found to be aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine if his foot-related symptoms are related to his service-connected bilateral calcaneal stress fractures.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and assigned a 10 percent evaluation. Service connection was also granted for pseudofolliculitis barbae, but the Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected tinea pedis and tinea ungium have not been shown to warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent. The claim for increased initial rating for lumbar spine disability is pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, glaucoma, and dental treatment purposes. The claim for a disability rating greater than 10 percent for left varicocele with referred pain in the left flank and testicle was also denied as there was no evidence of emergency medical care.

The Board finds that the Veteran's skin conditions, including xerosis, onychomycosis, and tinea pedis, are not related to his service. The preponderance of evidence shows these conditions began many years after service.