Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2011

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for left elbow disorder, right knee disorder, and tinea cruris.

The Veteran's tinea pedis does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not involve more than 40% of his entire body or exposed areas, and he is not on systemic therapy.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a right leg sore and denied service connection for a generalized skin condition, to include tinea versicolor. The Veteran's in-service injury resulted in current hyperpigmentation on the anterolateral surface of his right thigh.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially or materially contributed to by a disability or disease incurred in active military service.

The Veteran's skin disorder (tinea versicolor) is found to have existed since service and is granted service connection. Residuals of uterine perforation are not shown, as the VA examination did not find any evidence of such residuals. Service connection for a psychiatric disorder is also denied.

The Veteran's skin conditions were found during the VA examination, but the examiner opined that they are less likely related to his service. The case is being remanded for another opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disability, loss of sense of taste, and chloracne, all to include as due to exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected tinea versicolor was found to cover at least 5% but less than 20% of the exposed area, warranting an initial compensable disability rating of 10 percent prior to August 25, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is not a chronic condition and did not establish service connection as it was not shown to be related to his military service.

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

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ankle chip fracture residuals and pseudofolliculitis barbae with seborrhea dermatitis were denied by the Board. The rating for right ankle chip fracture residuals was found not to meet criteria for a higher rating, while the skin disorder claim resulted in a 30 percent rating from March 9, 2006 until March 24, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is withdrawn. The staphylococcal infection to the left knee resolved after treatment and is not currently shown. The cause of the Veteran's eczema is not related to his total knee replacement and thus is not a result of carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA in furnishing the hospital care, medical or surgical treatment, or examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his neurodermatitis was granted, and he is currently rated at 10 percent. The claim for an increased rating for his cardiac arrhythmia was also granted, with a current rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for her bilateral plantar fasciitis were denied, but she was granted a higher evaluation of 10 percent for her left foot disability with hallux valgus and a 10 percent evaluation for her right foot disability with hallux valgus (excluding the period of September 3, 2009 to October 31, 2009).

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated, with the exception of the residuals of right tibia stress fractures and pseudofolliculitis barbae, which are assigned noncompensable ratings. The RO has granted a 10 percent rating for degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae was rated as noncompensable prior to February 29, 2008 and granted a 10 percent rating thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for a 10% rating for folliculitis, reopening of service connection claims for upper respiratory and bilateral hearing loss disabilities were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PFB has been rated as 30 percent disabling since August 30, 2002. The effective date for this rating is set at July 26, 2011.

The Veteran's tinea pedis was not found to meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating prior to February 20, 2009.