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

The Veteran's tinea versicolor claim is remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his skin disorder.,The Veteran's back disorder (including scoliosis and sacroiliitis) claim requires additional medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service or pre-existing defects aggravated by service.,The Veteran's right knee disorder claim is remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his current right leg/knee disorders, including sleep apnea.,The Veteran's sleep apnea claim requires an opinion on whether it is related to service. The pes planus claim is also remanded as new and material evidence has been received.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD, defective hearing, tinnitus, neurodermatitis, and hemorrhoids combine to a 90 percent rating. The weight of the competent and probative evidence indicates that these conditions preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right leg/knee disorder, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-service existence of the condition and that the current disability is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, irritant induced dermatitis of the upper eyelids, and allergic rhinitis are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for bilateral arm muscle strain, eye problems (proptosis), hemorrhoids, dermatitis (PFB shaving problems), or residuals of a second-degree burn on the right hand. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is currently rated at 10 percent, affecting less than 1% of the entire body and 10% of exposed areas. The condition does not require systemic therapy or other immunosuppressive drugs.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for his skin condition (tinea corporis and tinea cruris) was granted effective September 5, 1969. He also received an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his coronary artery disease status post bypass surgery and valve replacement.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for cystic acne with adenitis suppurativa of the axillae was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher schedular rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various skin and bone disorders, as well as diabetes mellitus, were denied. The Board found that there was no persuasive scientific or medical evidence suggesting a link between the claimed conditions and any alleged radiation exposure during military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer, chloracne and acne vulgaris are not related to his military service or herbicide exposure. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic kidney disease, diabetes with erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and remands the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's neurodermatitis, which was previously rated at 10 percent prior to November 20, 2008, is now granted a rating of 30 percent effective from the date of his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a change in the hearing officer.

The Veteran's skin disorder, including acne and sebaceous cysts, was not incurred or aggravated during service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have chloracne related to his Vietnam-era exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for acne vulgaris was denied as her condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations. The issue of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for migraines is pending and will be addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a VA examination to determine if he requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than April 4, 1994, for service connection and a rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected tinea cruris with history of tinea versicolor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer, which was first diagnosed many years after service, is not related to his military service or exposure to herbicides during service. As a result, the claim for service connection for skin cancer is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinea pedis and multiple joint arthritis, finding that these conditions did not have their clinical onset in service or were otherwise related to active duty. The evidence did not establish a continuity of symptomatology with respect to his knee problems.