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

The Veteran's skin condition, specifically spongiotic dermatitis, is being remanded for further examination and review to determine if it is related to his military service or due to herbicide exposure. The VA examiner will need to consider the Veteran's service treatment records and any relevant medical evidence.

The Board granted the Veteran's request to reopen her claim for service connection for recurrent headaches and determined that it was related to her service-connected obstructive/restrictive lung disease. However, the Board denied her claim for service connection for atopic dermatitis.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The case is being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration of the evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and consideration of a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability, including residuals of a left Achilles injury. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and skin disability of the feet are also granted.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for psoriasis has been remanded due to the need for additional development and a Travel Board hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for PFB prior to July 9, 2011 and a rating in excess of 10 percent for PFB since that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of tinea versicolor and diabetes mellitus are related to his service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the claimant. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that further development is required before the appeal can be adjudicated, including obtaining a VA dermatological examination and any relevant VA treatment records. The Appellant's service connection claims for tinea pedis and tinea manuum will be remanded to allow for additional evidence collection and analysis.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's skin condition, low back disability, and cervical spine disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service. The Veteran was scheduled for VA examinations but did not attend.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, heart disease, and an increased rating for tinea versicolor were denied. The claim for tinea versicolor was granted with a 30% disability rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's keratosis pilaris with atopic dermatitis was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated due to exposure to Agent Orange. The condition is considered a variant of dry skin and associated with other factors such as heredity, respiratory allergies, altered immune regulation, and altered skin barrier function.

The Veteran has had continuing symptoms regarding his skin rash from service to the present, and there are current medical diagnoses of dermatitis and psoriasis or inverse psoriasis. The Board finds that the Veteran's skin disability was incurred in wartime service.

The Veteran's deep venous thrombosis with venous insufficiency, stasis dermatitis and eczema, peripheral artery disease of the left leg is currently rated at 40 percent. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current level of disability.

The Veteran's hand disability is not service-connected as his erysipelas did not exist prior to service and there is no current evidence of a chronic hand disability. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of erysipelas or any other skin condition in his hands.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee sprain and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine have been granted initial ratings, but left hand numbness and pseudofolliculitis barbae do not meet criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's psoriasis with exfoliative dermatitis is found to have been caused by his service-connected malaria, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor is currently rated at 10 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the current VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for clarification of his desire for a hearing and scheduling the appropriate type of hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection for chloracne, increased rating for right orbital fracture with related conditions, increased rating for tinnitus, and ratings for hearing loss and sinusitis are pending.