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

The Board found that the Veteran's skin disability, including chloracne, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder, psoriasis, gastrointestinal disorder, blepharospasm, and coronary artery disease are not related to his military service or any incident thereof. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA skin diseases examination to determine if any current skin disability is related to service or chloracne. The Veteran's claim for service connection for chloracne remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions including bilateral foot disabilities, left and right hip/knee disabilities, rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, residuals of a nasal fracture (including deviated septum), sleep apnea, and chronic folliculitis. The Veteran's hearing loss is also service connected.

The Board has determined that proper VCAA notice was not provided to the appellant regarding her claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. The case is being remanded to provide this necessary notice.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, shortness of breath, tinea pedis, and hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease have been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has granted an 80 percent disability rating for atopic dermatitis, eczematoid type, effective March 12, 2009, based on the Veteran's extensive facial rash and disfigurement.

The Veteran was granted service connection for seborrheic dermatitis, but denied service connection for a chronic disability manifested by anal fissures, polyps and/or rectal bleeding.

The Veteran's appeal involves the initial rating for left carpal tunnel syndrome and an increased rating for tinea pedis. The RO has granted service connection but denied a compensable rating for both conditions in August 2007. The Board is remanding the case to obtain updated VA examinations, as well as any outstanding treatment records from Fayetteville VAMC.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claim, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging a skin examination to assess the severity of his tinea pedis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral plantar psoriasis is not related to military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for typhus, malaria, psoriasis, and left leg cellulitis were denied as there is no competent evidence of these conditions during his active duty or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability in any of these areas.

The Veteran's service-connected eczema is manifested by a rash that covers approximately 30 percent of his body, warranting an evaluation of 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for a Travel Board hearing at the local RO in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Veteran's Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) is rated at 50 percent since October 23, 2008. The condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable schedular criteria.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for asthma and eczema, finding that new and material evidence was submitted. The Board is granting these claims as they are determined to be related to her active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral small vessel vasculitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and irritable bowel syndrome were denied. The claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was not established.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The Veteran's skin conditions have been rated at the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 7806, and no higher rating is warranted based on the current symptomatology.