Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2012

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition, finding no evidence of chronic residuals from any in-service injury or disease. Service connection was also not established for the appellant's tinea versicolor of bilateral feet due to lack of evidence connecting it to his military service.

The Board denied entitlement to increased evaluations for the Veteran's service-connected right wrist disabilities, including interruption of the cutaneous nerve and a scar from ganglion cyst excision. The issues were not related to exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, or other presumptive conditions.

The Board found that a chronic skin disorder was not shown during service and the competent evidence does not establish a chronic skin disorder is etiologically related to in-service disease or injury or otherwise related to active service. The Veteran's skin disorders are presumed unrelated to his military service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his adult-onset diabetes mellitus and dermatitis of the left hand did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's eczema is reasonably due to an error in judgment in the course of VA care, and he has a current diagnosis of seborrheic dermatitis, diffuse sclerotic eczema including on the chest, back, elbows, knees, and hands, and tinea pedis. The Board finds that his eczema is attributable to a combination of irritants, which includes the VA medication.

The Board has granted service connection for a deviated septum and epistaxis, and reopened the claims of service connection for a skin rash and sleep apnea. The issues of service connection for IBS, flat feet, diverticulitis, and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for hemorrhoids are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to provide proper notice for a scheduled hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities remain on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected eczematous and seborrheic dermatitis.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a right eye disability was granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for this condition.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for hypertension was granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for this condition based on evidence linking it to Agent Orange exposure or as secondary to other conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinea pedis, claimed as a foot rash, is at least as likely as not incurred in service and grants service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, a respiratory disability (claimed as asthma), residuals of a head injury, vertigo, chronic fatigue syndrome, recurrent dermatitis, and hysterectomy residuals. The reasons provided include lack of evidence supporting these conditions during or after service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including anxiety disorder and COPD, were denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety neurosis, as part of the Veteran's already service-connected PTSD. Service connection is also granted for neurodermatitis, as part of the Veteran's already service-connected lichen simplex chronicus.

The Veteran's chloracne, which has been rated at 30 percent since April 20, 2009, continues to meet the criteria for this rating. The condition involves visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of two features or a paired set of features (face and neck).

The Veteran's tinea versicolor has not covered more than 40 percent of his entire body or exposed areas, and does not require systemic therapy such as corticosteroids. Therefore, a rating in excess of 30 percent is denied.

The Veteran's nummular eczematous dermatitis involves at least 5 percent, but less than 20 percent, of the entire body. The condition meets the criteria for a 10% rating under the VA Rating Schedule.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining and associating unretouched color photographs taken during a July 2011 VA examination with his claims file.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's increased disability rating claim for tinea cruris of the right thigh and scrotum is denied as his condition does not meet or approximate the criteria for a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7806.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted as a direct service connection, and the VA determined that he had not been diagnosed with PTSD at the time of his death.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral pes planus was granted as a direct service connection, based on evidence indicating it was related to combat injuries during service.,The Veteran's claim for spinal disorder was granted as a direct service connection, due to old trauma and a nexus to combat service.,The Veteran's claim for seborrheic dermatitis was denied as there was no competent medical evidence linking the condition to his presumed exposure to Agent Orange or any event during service.,The Veteran's claim for left knee disorder was granted as a direct service connection, based on evidence indicating he had arthritis due to old trauma.

The Veteran's service-connected acne vulgaris of the face and neck with fungus on feet is rated at 30 percent, while his service-connected basal cell carcinoma of the chin is rated at 10 percent. The claims for psychiatric disorder, TDIU, and initial compensable evaluation for acne vulgaris are being remanded.