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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of his service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral osteal degenerative disease (lumbar spine disability), tinea versicolor, left foot plantar fasciitis, right foot plantar fasciitis, bilateral elbow epicondylitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and provide opinions regarding the etiology of his skin, eye, and sleep disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, allergic rhinitis, and resolved doubt in favor of the Veteran's assertions regarding her current symptoms. The appeal is dismissed as the appellant withdrew her claims for fibromyalgia, eczema, skin rash, hair loss (due to stress), residuals of animal bite, and allergies.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claim for an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for chronic prostatitis with urethral stricture prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's allergic contact dermatitis is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 7806. The evidence does not support a higher rating as his symptoms do not more nearly approximate the criteria for a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's skin disability, including tinea pedis and onychomycosis, is found to have started during his military service. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae has been assigned a noncompensable disability evaluation. The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA skin examination to assess the extent of hyperpigmentation and any scars.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the VA RO for further development and readjudication. The issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for dermatitis with folliculitis, service connection for PTSD, and other claims are pending.

The Veteran's sinusitis, bronchitis, and tinea pedis skin disorders are all found to be service-connected. The bilateral foot hallux valgus and pes planus conditions were not found to be service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for back scarring and assigned a 30 percent disability rating effective June 8, 2009. The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for chloracne is denied.

The Veteran's skin disability, tinea pedis, is currently rated as noncompensable and his bilateral pes planus is rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a compensable rating for tinea pedis or an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left knee was withdrawn. The claim for a compensable rating for eczema prior to February 22, 2012 is denied as the condition did not cover more than 5% of her entire body or exposed areas and no systemic therapy was required.

The Veteran's service-connected dyshidrotic eczema affects less than 5 percent of the entire body or less than 5 percent of exposed areas, and no more than topical therapy has been required. Therefore, a noncompensable rating is granted.

The Veteran's skin disorder, thyroid cancer, and lymph node cancer are not related to his military service.,There is no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides.

Pseudofolliculitis barbae was granted service connection as it is presumed to have been incurred in service due to frequent shaving during active duty.,Corneal abrasion of the right eye does not meet criteria for service connection. No current disability related to this condition has been demonstrated.,Chronic left epididymitis, a residual of an in-service vasectomy, is not shown and no etiological link was found between the condition and service.,Right hand condition is not shown during or within one year of service and no current disability related to service-connected conditions has been demonstrated. No evidence supports a right hand condition being incurred in service.,Left foot sprain is not shown during or within one year of service and no current left foot disability, including bunions or plantar warts, has been demonstrated.,Diabetes mellitus was not shown during or within one year of service. No evidence supports a link between diabetes mellitus and service-connected hypertension.,Bunion of the left foot is not shown during or within one year of service and no current disability related to service-connected conditions has been demonstrated. No evidence supports a bunion condition being incurred in service.,Plantar warts of the left foot are not shown during or within one year of service and no current disability related to service-connected conditions has been demonstrated. No evidence supports plantar warts being incurred in service.,Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is not shown during or within one year of service and no etiological link was found between the condition and service.

The Veteran's skin disorder, tinea versicolor, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against his claim for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for psoriasis, claimed as a skin disorder. The Veteran's current diagnosis of psoriasis is considered to be related to his in-service diagnosis of tinea versicolor, which he asserts began during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including L5-S1 bulging disc and myositis, seborrheic dermatitis, folliculitis, depressive disorder, right S1 radiculopathy, left S1 radiculopathy, and small hiatal hernia and gastritis, preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him. The Board finds that the criteria for TDIU are met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and considering the newly submitted evidence. The claims of increased rating for service-connected dyshydrotic eczema and TDIU will be re-adjudicated after this.