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

The Veteran's tinea pedis with ingrown toenails has been rated at 10 percent since August 8, 2007. The Board finds that the current rating is appropriate as the condition affects less than 1% of his entire body and intermittent systemic therapy was not required.

The Veteran's skin condition, diagnosed as contact dermatitis, has been rated at a noncompensable level since February 11, 2006. However, the Board found that intermittent systemic therapy such as corticosteroids was required for less than six weeks during any twelve-month period on appeal, warranting a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irregular heartbeat and a skin condition, to include psoriasis, is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has current diagnoses of psoriasis which are related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriasis is being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that diabetes, presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents in service, contributed to the Veteran's death from pulmonary embolism. As such, the criteria for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death have been met.

The Veteran's service-connected tinea barbae is not currently active, and his skin cancers and actinic keratosis lesions do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating. The Board denied an increased evaluation.

The Veteran's chronic skin disorder, diagnosed as dyshidrosis eczema, was not incurred or aggravated by service, including exposure to defoliants in the Republic of Vietnam. The Board found no evidence of a chronic skin condition during service and no continuous manifestations after service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the 50 percent rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae and keloids of the face, neck and scalp is denied as no increase in disability meeting the criteria for a higher rating under former criteria occurred prior to August 30, 2002.

The Veteran's tinea pedis is unrelated to his military service and it is not shown that he has experienced this or any other skin disorder affecting his feet on a continual or repeated basis since his service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing SSA records and relevant VA treatment records.

The Board granted the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left foot disabilities. The Veteran was also awarded a 10 percent rating for his bilateral tinea pedis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file for VA to make a decision on the claim, and the Veteran needs an appropriate VA examination of his claimed skin disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected acne vulgaris was initially rated noncompensable and later granted a 60 percent rating effective February 3, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for hearing loss, chronic bronchitis, or hypertension. The claims of service connection for psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), neck condition, COPD, sinus and allergy problems, left knee condition, right knee condition, right shoulder condition, skin disorder, and hypertension are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for such benefits at the time of his death.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new skin examination to assess the severity of his service-connected skin disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional development, including obtaining SSA records and determining if an extraschedular evaluation for atopic dermatitis as of March 12, 2009 is warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and earlier effective dates, finding no new evidence to reopen or support service connection for various conditions. The appeals were dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating as it does not cause disfigurement, nor involves 5 to 20 percent of the entire body or exposed areas, and does not require systemic therapy.