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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, respiratory disorder, bilateral onychomycosis, and bilateral tinea pedis. The claim for diverticulosis was not addressed as it is related to a different issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU and his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board granted a 30% rating for the Veteran's skin disorder, to include dermatitis and squamous cell carcinoma, effective April 24, 2011. The issue of entitlement to an increase in a 30 percent rating for the period since April 24, 2011, remains pending.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disability rating is 20%, which does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating. The Board has also determined that an extraschedular TDIU rating is denied as his disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and pseudofolliculitis barbae were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied both issues. The Veteran's hypertension was not present during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking it to service. His pseudofolliculitis barbae does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7806.

The Veteran's chloracne was diagnosed and found to have manifested within a year of his last exposure to Agent Orange during service in the Republic of Vietnam. As such, he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's chloracne is presumed due to his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current skin disorder on his legs, diagnosed as neurodermatitis, which may be associated with his service-connected chloracne.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sickle cell disease has been reopened and is granted. He is also awarded secondary service connection for multiple conditions as secondary to his sickle cell disease, including right shoulder/arm disorder, hemorrhoids (blood in stool), fungal dermatitis, psychiatric disorder (depression), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, low back disorder, heart condition, eye disorders (glaucoma and blindness in the left eye), muscle and joint pain, erectile dysfunction, and alopecia. His rating for vertigo remains at 30 percent.

The effective dates for the grants of service connection for tinea versicolor, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are April 15, 1997.,The effective date for TDIU is determined to be April 15, 1997 through September 29, 1997 and from May 1, 1998 forward. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date was not properly filed as a free-standing claim.,The effective dates for the grants of service connection for major depressive disorder and recurrent lumbar radiculopathy status post hemilaminectomy and discectomy are April 15, 1997.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and obtaining recent medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have chronic asbestosis or bronchitis related to service, and his chloracne is presumed due to Agent Orange exposure. The tinnitus was not incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for automobile and adaptive equipment or for adaptive equipment only is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's skin disorder, including chloracne and actinic keratosis, is being remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to his service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's tinea pedis and tinea unguim of the feet have been rated at 10% since June 1, 1997. The left calf muscle scar has also been rated at 10% since that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, to include tinea versicolor, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for chloracne as new and material evidence had not been received, finding that the previously submitted evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acne on his neck, which developed into a keloid scar during service and was aggravated beyond its natural progression, meets the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's tinea pedis of the right foot is manifested by subjective complaints but does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for chloracne. The claims for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus and for a TDIU are pending.