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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for alopecia and urticaria, as well as his increased disability ratings for PTSD, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and pseudofolliculitis barbae were all granted. The initial disability rating for urticaria was set at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected tinea of the hands and feet is granted an increased rating to 60 percent. The Board also grants secondary service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his hypertensive vascular disease and the current severity of his service-connected cystic acne vulgaris.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for scars of the left and right forearms, as secondary to eczematous dermatitis, have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a VCAA notice issue, and the Veteran is required to provide evidence of current chloracne or any other skin disease recognized as being associated with herbicide exposure.

The Veteran has additional disability of the right hand involving median and radial nerve paralysis as a result of VA carpal tunnel release surgery on December 2, 1999. The proximate cause was that VA furnished the surgical treatment without the Veteran's informed consent.

The Veteran's service treatment records show diagnoses of tinea cruris, foot fungus, and ingrown toenails. The Board finds that the Veteran has credible testimony regarding his current conditions dating back to service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran does not have psoriasis that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated during active military service.

The Veteran's tinea pedis is manifested by lesions to the web space of all toes, comprising less than 1 percent of the total body surface area and 0 percent of the exposed body surface area. The disability does not require intermittent systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is being remanded due to the need for another VA examination to assess his employability given his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected AL amyloidosis, Type II diabetes mellitus, and tinea versicolor contributed to his death from sepsis. The Board finds that the service-connected conditions affected vital organs in a manner that left him less capable of resisting the effects of other disease or injury.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral tinea pedis was denied, and the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his service connection claim for residuals of a cold injury to the bilateral feet (claimed as bilateral frozen feet) was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case to schedule a VA cold injury examination and readjudicate the claim for service connection for residuals of frozen feet.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for groin and testes, back disability, and facial rash were denied. The Board found no current disabilities of the groin or testes, but granted service connection for a facial rash (pseudofolliculitis barbae).

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae, maintaining the current 10% disability evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus/plantar fasciitis/hallux valgus was rated at 10 percent prior to June 30, 2010. Beginning on that date, the disability is rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's skin disabilities, including acne vulgaris, hydradenitis suppurativa, and cellulitis of the scalp, are not service connected as they were not diagnosed during or within one year after his presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The Board finds that service connection is denied for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations and service connection was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for onychomycosis and tinea pedis, as it only involved 2% of total body surface.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that none were incurred or aggravated by his active military service and no presumption of exposure to herbicides applied.