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

The Veteran's skin disability was rated at 30 percent prior to December 4, 2006 and at 60 percent thereafter. The TDIU claim was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, as well as his claim for a TDIU. The case is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to provide addendum opinions from the July 2013 VA examiners regarding hypertension and PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinea versicolor was denied as there is no evidence of the condition affecting more than 20% of his total body or exposed areas, and no systemic therapy required.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's skin condition, including post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and folliculitis, is not service-connected as it was not present during his military service and is not related to any in-service events or exposures.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings have been granted, with the exception of his claim for higher initial disability rating for residuals of incisional hernia repair.,His anxiety with depression and inverse psoriasis were each rated at 50 percent effective June 18, 2004.

The Veteran's service-connected athlete's foot and abdominal abscess residuals have not met the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinea cruris is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and skin-related disability of the feet were not incurred in service, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right leg disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service.

The Veteran's eczema was initially rated as noncompensable from December 2, 2005 to March 28, 2007. From March 29, 2007 to June 6, 2007, the Veteran received a 60 percent rating for eczema due to significant facial rash. Since August 3, 2012, he has been rated at 60 percent for eczema. Additionally, a separate 20 percent rating was granted for radial nerve impairment of the left upper extremity as a neurologic manifestation of service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU prior to July 1, 1997. The effective date of the award of TDIU was granted on July 1, 1997.

The Board determined that the Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as it does not manifest in any characteristic disfigurement of the head, face, or neck and does not require topical or systemic corticosteroid therapy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriasis has been denied as there is no evidence linking the current diagnosis to his period of service. The claims for increased evaluation for lumbar spine disability and TDIU are pending.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection and determined that she is entitled to this benefit due to exposure to toxins during her Gulf War service, which aggravated her pre-existing skin conditions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and psoriasis were not found to be related to his service-connected PTSD.,Right knee disability was granted, but the specific rating assigned is not provided in the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating as it does not involve visible or palpable tissue loss, gross distortion or asymmetry of features, or more than 40 percent of exposed areas. The current 30% evaluation is appropriate.

The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of the claimed conditions.,There is no clear and unmistakable evidence (CUE) to overturn previous denial decisions.

The Veteran's photosensitive non-specific dermatitis is manifested by a red, itchy rash that covers less than 20 percent of his total body and less than 40 percent of exposed skin. The VA examiner found no active eruption at the time of examination but estimated an area of 5 to 20 percent of total body surface area and 20 to 40 percent of exposed body surface area.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.