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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA psychiatric and skin examination. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board found no evidence of a skin disorder during service or within one year of the Veteran's last exposure to herbicides, and thus denied service connection for his current skin disability.

The Veteran's service-connected furunculosis and folliculitis of the pelvic area and upper posterior thighs are currently rated at 30 percent, effective February 17, 2005. The evidence does not show that these conditions cover more than 40% of the entire body or exposed areas affected, nor do they require constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs during the past 12-month period.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since March 28, 2006. The Board finds that the evidence supports this rating and does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome was denied as there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service and the current condition is not related to active service.,For the period prior to May 1, 2009, the Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent. From May 1, 2009 forward, it did not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed back and skin conditions, including whether they are related to service or any in-service exposure. The claims are being remanded for further action.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a skin disorder, specifically acne vulgaris with boils, and finds that it is related to the appellant's preexisting condition due to exposure to herbicide agents during his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining SSA records and providing a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for tinea unguium and varicose veins of the left lower extremity were granted, with a 20 percent rating effective September 23, 1997 to July 23, 2004, and a 40 percent rating effective from July 23, 2004. For neuropathy of the left lower extremity, initial increased ratings were granted with a 10 percent rating effective September 6, 2000, to April 21, 2008, and a 40 percent rating effective November 5, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for onychomycosis and dermatitis, both claimed as due to herbicide exposure, are being remanded for further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral foot conditions are not related to his military service and therefore denies his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's psoriasis is currently rated at 60 percent disabling, the maximum allowable under DC 7816. The RO found that his condition does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating as it does not involve systemic manifestations such as fever, weight loss, and hypoproteinemia, nor does he require constant or near-constant systemic therapy like corticosteroids, immunosuppressive retinoids, ultra violet light treatment, or electron beam treatments.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records from July 2011 onwards. The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinea pedis, tinea cruris, and headaches will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral knee disability causally related to service or service-connected psoriasis, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis with facial telangiectasias was rated at 30 percent prior to September 8, 2011. After that date, the rating was increased to 60 percent due to the condition affecting more than 40% of his face.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the local regional office. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for candidiasis of the feet with tinea pedia and hyperhydrosis, currently evaluated at 10 percent disabling, and entitlement to special monthly pension are pending.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for psoriasis was granted at a noncompensable rating, effective March 27, 2006. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in his disability rating beyond this level.

The Veteran is seeking an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral tinea pedis. Additional development is necessary to determine the current severity of his service-connected condition and whether systemic therapy was warranted at any time.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and development due to the Veteran's reported intermittent skin symptoms. The Veteran will need to undergo another VA examination to determine if his current skin disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's arthritis of the lumbar and cervical spine were not shown to be present during service or within one year thereafter, and any current diagnoses are not attributable to service.,The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder has no current diagnosis in the record.