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

The Board has established service connection for the Veteran's skin disorder, sterility, testicular disorder, toe disorder, fingernail disorder, and liver disorder based on his confirmed exposure to Agent Orange during military service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of left ankle sprain are not manifested by a marked limitation of ankle motion or ankylosis, and thus do not warrant an evaluation in excess of the current 10 percent rating.,Prior to December 21, 2011, the Veteran's recurrent folliculitis of the arms and chest did not encompass at least 5 percent but less than 20 percent of his entire body or exposed areas affected. From December 21, 2011, it has not encompassed 20 to 40 percent of his entire body or exposed areas affected.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, characterized as degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's claims seeking increased ratings for pustular acne and Baker's cysts in the left knee have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to consider his claims for increased ratings for dermatitis and scars, including obtaining relevant medical records and addressing the extent of his skin involvement.

The Board has granted service connection for dermatitis, finding that the Veteran's skin condition had onset during active service. The Board denied service connection for low back disorder and sinusitis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. Service connection was also denied for left carpal tunnel syndrome as there is no evidence showing it began in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to military service.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable ratings for genital herpes simplex virus, type II and anal rash (claimed as dermatitis) were granted. The Veteran now receives a 30% rating for his genital herpes virus starting from February 19, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage requirements for award of a schedular TDIU, and these disabilities, alone, are not shown to prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The VA examiner concluded that the current asteatotic eczema is not related to the in-service treatment for skin ulcers and secondary infection, finding no nexus between the two.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability of osteoarthritis, depression, headaches, blurred vision or dermatitis that is related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic skin disorder, other than those already service connected, being incurred in or aggravated by service. The Veteran's papular acne was not linked to his active duty service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with depression is rated at 70 percent, effective November 7, 2006. The Board has granted the Veteran a rating in excess of 30 percent for his neurodermatitis with pseudofolliculitis barbae. Additionally, new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction (secondary to anxiety disorder), sleep apnea, peripheral vestibular disorder, gastritis, and sinusitis.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU has been remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records, SSA records, and further extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to determine if any Phisohex baths, cobalt treatments, or steroidal treatments for atopic dermatitis caused or contributed to the Veteran's metastatic sinus cancer. The appeal is now pending again.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae has been rated as noncompensable since February 12, 2009. The Board denied a higher disability rating.

The Board finds the Veteran competent and credible in his assertions as to the nature of his skin disability of the face and head from active service forward, and the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has discoid lupus erythematosus that began during active service. Accordingly, the Board grants service connection for discoid lupus erythematosus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids and tinea versicolor do not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered together, meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acne and hepatitis C were denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or continuity of symptoms since separation.

The Veteran's eczema disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating as it does not meet the criteria for a 60 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7806.