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

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of acneform disease, and determined that arthritis of the hands was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder did not meet criteria for a compensable rating before December 23, 2008, and a higher rating from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea pedis, claimed as a foot rash due to Agent Orange exposure, is being remanded for additional development of medical records from the Dallas VA Medical Center.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and an increased rating for her right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for tinea versicolor and tinea pedis with onychomycosis, finding that the evidence did not support such a higher rating based on the criteria at the time.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for stasis dermatitis is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition related to his military service. The right eye disorder claim has been reopened, but new and material evidence has not been provided to establish a current disability that may be linked to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, internal hemorrhoids, varicose veins of the lower extremities, eczema, left foot cold weather injury residuals, right foot plantar fasciitis, and right foot calcaneal fracture. The reasons provided are that there is no current evidence linking these conditions to service or any other basis for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for evaluations of his service-connected conditions have been denied. The RO/AMC will schedule a VA examination to determine the current severity of his allergic rhinitis and will readjudicate the issue of what evaluation is warranted for allergic rhinitis since March 1, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal for basic eligibility for nonservice-connected pension benefits was denied as he did not meet the service requirements under section 1521(j) of the Veterans Pension Act.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and tinea pedis are all granted as they meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities and claims for additional disability ratings, as well as a claim for service connection. The case is being remanded to obtain updated medical examinations and opinions regarding the severity of his shrapnel wound residuals and skin disorder, and to determine if his hearing loss is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for sarcoidosis of the skin with complaints of joint pain, bilateral heel spurs with arthritis of the tarsal bone, and hypertension were denied as there is no evidence showing that any condition requires constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs during the past 12-month period. The rating schedule does not provide a separate rating for pain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral pes planus, bilateral tinea pedis, and major depressive disorder with features of dysthymic disorder) do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. Therefore, his claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted and rated at 70 percent since August 7, 2008. The other conditions (tinnitus, chloracne, intermittent claudication of the legs) have not been resolved in this decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back strain and tinea cruris. The claim for low back strain was denied due to a lack of medical evidence linking the current condition to service, while the claim for tinea cruris is pending as further examination and opinion are needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, claimed as dermatitis, is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is found to be related to his military service. His bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The Veteran's tinea pedis and tinea cruris are granted a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent, and he has a separate 20 percent rating for neurological impairment of the right lower extremity. The other conditions are not rated higher.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's dermatitis, characterized as dyshidrosis, was incurred during his active service and is granted service connection.