Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2014

Service connection for peripheral neuropathy and chloracne has been established based on the presumption of exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for external otitis, bilateral hearing loss, tinea versicolor, and recurrent tinnitus. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence, and the tinnitus claim was denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking it to service.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, finding that his condition is not related to his military service and ruling out exposure to herbicides as a cause. The examiner concluded that eczema and rosacea are not likely related to his time in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including migraine headaches and skin disorders. The decision did not address whether any of these conditions were related to his military service or exposure.

The Veteran is seeking an initial compensable rating for nummular eczema from August 7, 2006, and a higher rating of at least 60 percent since April 26, 2012. The case has been remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide the Veteran with a VA dermatologist's opinion regarding whether his use of topical Triamcinolone should be considered systemic therapy.

The Veteran's dermatitis of the right hand is found to be due to service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The Board finds that there is not enough evidence to establish a direct link between his current hearing loss disability or heart disorder (Wolfe-Parkinson-White syndrome) and his active duty in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, respiratory disorder, renal cancer residuals, and skin condition are not service-connected.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for eczema and granted it, finding that there is sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the Veteran's current eczema and his military service.,Regarding folliculitis, the issue remains pending as new and material evidence has not been received. The Board found this issue 'unknown' because the appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed as the claim has been granted. The claim for a 10 percent disability rating for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from May 7, 1969 - December 31, 1969 and providing a supplemental opinion based on these records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinea versicolor and a right foot callus disorder were denied. The skin condition was rated at 10% prior to September 4, 2012 and 30% thereafter, while the right foot callus disorder received no higher than a noncompensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriasis and found that he is not unemployable due to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acne conglobata was denied as the condition clearly preexisted service and there is no evidence of aggravation beyond normal progression. The Veteran's bilateral foot condition has also been denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling error for his Travel Board hearing. The issue remains about the initial compensable rating for service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae of the back of the neck.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, chloracne, bilateral cataracts, hyperlipidemia, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities have all been denied.

The Veteran's skin disorders affecting the skin behind his ears, feet, groin, and chest were present during service and continued after service. The Board grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's skin condition, manifested by intermittent papules that become itchy and filled with pus, is currently rated at 20 percent under the analogous diagnostic code for acne. The claim for service connection for acne vulgaris of the face was withdrawn.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a skin condition and granted it, finding new and material evidence. The skin conditions diagnosed since the last final denial are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a skin disability, specifically acne rosacea. The Board has determined that additional development is needed as the recent submitted service treatment records were not available for review by the examiner.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae, left wrist ganglion cyst, multiple muscle and joint pain, right leg bone condition, tinnitus, and back disability as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims. The Veteran's current back disability is not related to his active service.