Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2013

The Veteran was granted service connection for various disabilities, but only received noncompensable ratings.,A 10 percent initial rating was assigned for hemorrhoids.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin rash associated with tinea infection and/or dermatitis is likely related to service, while his back disorder was not present during service or within one year after service. The Board finds reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to procedural issues with the ratings for seborrheic dermatitis and actinic keratosis. The case will be returned to the Board after issuance of a statement of the case.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were withdrawn, and the Board dismissed the remaining issues due to lack of evidence supporting a skin disorder of the feet.

The Veteran's service-connected skin condition, characterized by tinea corpora on trunk, with tinea barbae and folliculitis on face, has required constant or near-constant use of topical steroid creams (triamcinolone cream) throughout the appeals period. As such, a 60 percent evaluation is granted.

The Veteran was granted service connection for a respiratory disorder, including asthma, which is presumed to be related to her Gulf War service.,Service connection was also established for atopic dermatitis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBS), both of which are presumed due to the Veteran's Gulf War service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial disability rating and restoration of the 30 percent rating for xerotic eczema prior to November 14, 2008 was granted. The effective date is January 1, 2011.

The Veteran's atrophic dermatitis is considered a direct result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and he was granted service connection for peripheral vascular disease (microvessels) of both lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have chloracne or a skin condition due to any incident of his active duty service, and therefore denies both claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining audiometric findings and a VA dermatology examination to evaluate his scars.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae was denied as there is no evidence of the condition during the pendency of his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriasis, which he believed was related to his exposure to herbicides during active military service in Vietnam, is being remanded due to the need to obtain private treatment records and provide a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his skin disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in writing, stating that he no longer wants VA to take any further action on his claim.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for her service-connected right hip strain with arthritis, right shoulder arthroscopy, eczematoid dermatitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal by agreeing to the assigned disability ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) warrants a maximum rating of 60 percent, the highest available under VA regulations. The Board also found that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and granted TDIU.

The Board found that the currently demonstrated tinea pedis is not shown to have been caused or aggravated by the service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand and herpes simplex keratitis affecting the eye were denied. The claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for PFB prior to April 26, 2010, and in excess of 60 percent thereafter was granted. He is currently assigned a 60 percent rating effective from July 23, 2009.