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

The Veteran's skin disease, including psoriasis and a benign tumor or tumors, was not found to be related to service-connected right below-the-knee amputation. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, vascular disease (exclusive of peripheral vascular disease of the right lower extremity), arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine, and kidney failure were all determined to be unrelated to military service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected eczema does not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent evaluation based on the current evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a video hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the issue of entitlement to service connection for a skin condition was received by VA on March 5, 2002. The effective date assigned is March 5, 2002, as that is when the claim was received. However, the date entitlement arose was in March 1971, and thus the proper effective date for the award of service connection for atopic dermatitis is March 5, 2002.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed comedonal acne is etiologically related to his military service and granted service connection for a skin disorder, claimed as chloracne, due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted a 10 percent rating from February 18, 2009 to June 2, 2009. From December 2, 2008, the claim for a 10 percent rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 was denied as it lacked legal merit.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the schedular requirements for assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow any substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to missing records and incomplete file reconstruction.

The Veteran's service-connected PFB does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the revised skin regulations. His traumatic arthritis, residuals, thoracolumbar spine, is not manifested by incapacitating episodes or neurological complaints and thus does not warrant a higher than 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, to include as secondary to nodulocystic acne, and for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for nodulocystic acne have been remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's fungal dermatitis, left hip disability, and left knee disability are related to her active service. The sinus condition and chronic allergies, as well as the gynecological disorder (cysts and associated scarring), have not been established as being related to her service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depressive disorder is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD, and his chronic skin disorder (pruritus/acne and tinea pedis) and gastrointestinal disorder are not related to active service or an undiagnosed illness due to Gulf War service.

The Board denied service connection for psoriasis, arthritis, urinary incontinence, insomnia (secondary to service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae), and headaches. The Veteran's period of honorable service from February 1975 to February 13, 1977 is considered, but the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disorder, tinea cruris, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service symptoms and diagnosis of tinea cruris.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for acne was granted, but the Board found that her acne does not consist of deep inflamed nodules or pus-filled cysts. As a result, she is not entitled to a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's award of TDIU was terminated due to improvement in his service-connected skin disability. The Board has determined that the termination is inconsistent with the medical findings and regulations, and has restored the TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected skin disorders and to determine if any new or increased conditions are related to his service-connected contact dermatitis and tinea versicolor. The RO/AMC will also obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current right ear hearing loss for VA compensation purposes and finds service connection for left ear hearing loss is warranted. The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis of the feet is currently manifested by itching, bleeding, and flaking skin but does not cover 20 to 40 percent of the entire body or exposure areas.