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

The Veteran's solar dermatitis is related to his active military service and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been denied as there is no evidence of entitlement prior to the specified dates.,The Veteran has psoriatic arthritis, which was granted service connection in November 2002. His claim for an earlier effective date than November 15, 2002 for his right shoulder, left shoulder, right wrist, left wrist, right ankle, and left ankle psoriatic arthritis claims have been denied as there is no evidence of entitlement prior to that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, with a 10% disability rating assigned for tinea versicolor effective May 20, 2004.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, is denied. The Board found no evidence of chronic symptoms in service or continuous post-service symptomatology related to the claimed condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, did not have onset during service or is not related to his active duty. The back disability was also found not to be linked to service. Lastly, the skin condition other than pseudofolliculitis barbae was deemed unrelated to service.,The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and depression), a back disability, and a skin disability other than pseudofolliculitis barbae were denied by the Board.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have onset during service and is granted service connection.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's pseudofolliculitis barbae does not warrant a compensable rating as it covers less than 5 percent of his total body area and exposed areas, and no more than topical therapy is required.

The Board finds that the Veteran has a current skin disorder of the feet and groin, which is related to his active duty service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected bilateral tinea pedis is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have chloracne or peripheral neuropathy during service or since service, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the initial compensable evaluation for costochondritis was also denied. The Board found no evidence of a right arm condition or right wrist sprain during service or post-service, and concluded that any current symptoms are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's skin condition and bilateral foot condition were incurred or aggravated during service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions and service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for psoriasis vulgaris was granted, and his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board also found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated based on their current manifestations, and the evidence does not support a higher rating for any of his disabilities.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinea versicolor, a skin condition he has had since service. The Board also found that the evidence supported his claim of left tarsal tunnel syndrome and ordered further examination to determine its current status.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including audiometric and skin examinations to determine the nature of his hearing loss, dermatitis, and scalp conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected skin condition and to determine if any additional rating should be assigned.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial, compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae due to withdrawal of these claims by the Veteran. The remaining claims for higher ratings for hip and groin disabilities are remanded for further development.