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

The Veteran's service-connected psoriasis of the head and legs with acne scarring of the face does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a skin disorder that he claims began during his military service in Vietnam. The Board has determined that the current examination and opinion are inadequate to decide this claim, and therefore remands it for further development.

The Board has granted the request to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus and remanded the issue of service connection for a disorder of the skin of the lower legs.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a personal hearing before a Decision Review Officer at the local VA office. The claims include reopening of a glaucoma claim, service connection for left eye trauma, and rating adjustments.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions, including left rotator cuff dysfunction, low back disability, headaches, acne, and alopecia. The issues are related to service connection for these conditions, with the primary focus being on whether they are directly related to his military service or due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, lumbosacral strain with facet syndrome, varicosities and post-phlebitic syndrome of the right leg, varicosities and post-phlebitic syndrome of the left leg, and dermatitis.

The Veteran's service-connected psoriasis is currently rated at a 10 percent disability rating, but the evidence does not support an increase in this rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral tinea pedis, tinea cruris, and asbestosis have all been denied. The Board found that there was no credible evidence of in-service stressors related to fear of hostile enemy activity, no verified exposure to herbicides or asbestos during service, and insufficient medical evidence linking the current conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability, vertigo, upper respiratory disability, and gastrointestinal disability were denied. The Board found that the conditions did not have their onset in service or were not caused by service.

The Board has granted service connection for the claimed conditions and assigned a 20% disability rating effective from the date of the decision.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed jaw disability or any other service-connected condition. The initial ratings for hypertension, GERD with hiatal hernia, tinea pedis of the bilateral feet, and right wrist CTS are denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for glaucoma, sinusitis, sleep apnea, diverticulitis, and chloracne were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for dermatitis has been granted at 30 percent, which is the highest rating available under the applicable criteria. The condition does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as it does not affect more than 40% of his total body or exposed areas.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hand eczema, claimed as a skin condition, was restored to an initial 30 percent disability rating. The appeal for prostate cancer service connection is pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to secure records from Dr. Bahara and to readjudicate the claim of entitlement to increases in the 'staged' ratings assigned for bilateral tinea pedis/epidermophytosis, with onychomycosis.

The Veteran's skin disorder other than tinea pedis, to include chloracne and tinea cruris, is not presumed service-connected due to lack of in-service exposure to Agent Orange. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected tinea pedis and onychomycosis have not affected at least 5 percent of his body or exposed areas, nor required intermittent systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs for a total duration of less than six weeks during a 12-month period. Therefore, the initial (noncompensable) rating assigned is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for seborrheic dermatitis, a lumbar spine disability, heart disease, and hepatitis due to insufficient development. The Veteran's file must be provided to the VA examiners for review.

The Veteran's skin disability of the hands, forearms, neck, and face is likely due to military service.