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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma is reasonably shown to have been caused by her service-connected atopic dermatitis, and therefore grants secondary service connection for asthma.

The Veteran's asthma is service-connected, and he was granted a noncompensable rating for his diastasis recti status post hernia. The Veteran received a 10 percent rating for his bilateral tinea pedis prior to September 27, 2010, and a higher rating since then.

The Board denied service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for Tinea Versicolor.

The Veteran's upper extremities/hand function is preserved, including grasping and manipulation. The Veteran has not lost the use of either arm or hand.

The Board granted service connection for a skin disorder, diagnosed as follicular dermatitis, and assigned a 30 percent rating. The claim was reopened on new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a more recent VA examination and additional medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected psoriasis vulgaris and its effect on his ability to work.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting acne was aggravated by his active service, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that service connection for tinea pedis is granted, with the condition being found to have onset during service. Service connection was not established for psoriasis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, low back strain, diabetes mellitus, cervical strain, and multiple knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that a TDIU rating is warranted based on the combined effect of these disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, finding that his claimed conditions did not have onset during service or are not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected skin disability, including acne scarring, rosacea, and rhinophyma, has been rated at 60 percent since the appeal period began. The condition is manifested by flare-ups affecting more than 40 percent of exposed area but does not meet criteria for disfigurement or limitation of motion.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for service-connected acne vulgaris was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as her combined disability rating is 80 percent, which does not satisfy the requirement of at least one disability rated at 40 percent or more with additional disability to bring the combined rating to 70 percent or more.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for skin rashes, finding that his diagnosed conditions were not related to service or a service-connected disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cough, knee disability, eczema, and onychomycosis and ingrown toenails were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for service connection in any of these cases.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current skin or eye disability and did not experience chronic symptoms of these conditions during service. Therefore, service connection for both conditions is denied.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a combined 100 percent disability rating, which was granted on September 29, 2006. The appeal is currently in remand status due to unresolved issues regarding the July 1985 decision and clarification of his April 2008 notice of disagreement.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for atopic dermatitis with chronic tinea pedis from October 15, 2009. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to TDIU is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected tinea cruris with a history of tinea versicolor was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the former version of Diagnostic Code 7806.