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

The Veteran's skin disorder and PTSD are granted, with the skin disorder receiving a 100% rating based on presumed Agent Orange exposure. The PTSD also receives a 100% rating due to total occupational and social impairment prior to death.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic headache disorder and remanded the remaining claims due to new evidence showing that the Veteran's skin condition may be related to his service in the Persian Gulf War. The rating for residuals, fracture of left little finger, is also remanded.

The Board finds that service connection is warranted for eczema and pseudofolliculitis barbae, but not for chest pain. The Veteran's eczema is presumed to have been incurred in service due to the numerous skin complaints he reported during his military service. Service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae is also granted as it is considered a direct result of his active duty service. However, there is no evidence linking chest pain to service or any other condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, increased initial rating for eczema/fungus infection of the right hand, and reopening service connection for asthma are also being addressed.

The claims for allergic rhinitis, tinea pedis, sleep apnea, and a right ankle injury were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The claims for gastrointestinal disorder, lung condition, and right great toe injury were reopened.,Service connection for PTSD and depression (inclusive) was granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PFB was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,For the period prior to July 15, 2009, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability warranted a 40% evaluation based on limitation of motion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including new examinations and readjudication of his claims. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for tinea pedis and calloused skin of the right plantar foot, which he claims are due to exposure to diesel fuel during his military service. The Board has ordered additional development as requested by the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinea cruris, a low back disorder, and bilateral hip disorder. The decisions were based on direct service connection without any presumption or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling new examinations to assess the severity of her Raynaud's phenomenon and eczema with dyschromia.

The Board denied an increased rating for tinea versicolor, currently evaluated at 30 percent disabling.

The Board has granted service connection for chloracne, a skin disorder, based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service. Service connection was denied for the gastrointestinal disorder (claimed as colon polyps).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a skin condition (folliculitis), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were all denied. The VA examiner found no evidence of current disabilities related to the conditions in question.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and psoriasis are both granted. Service connection is established for PTSD due to in-service combat stressors, and for psoriasis which began during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability was caused by his military service and granted service connection for a low back disability. The initial rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae remains unchanged.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and panic disorder with agoraphobia, rated at 100% since November 1, 2011, is granted. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU rating effective from the same date.

The Veteran's skin condition of the feet, including onychomycosis, is rated at 10 percent since March 22, 2012. Prior to that date, a compensable rating was not warranted.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for right shoulder tendonitis and bursitis prior to March 9, 2009 was granted. The Veteran's subsequent claims for increased ratings were denied as his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on the current evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn. The Board granted service connection for recurrent furunculosis, finding that the condition began during service and is related to it.

The Veteran's eczema, affecting less than five percent of his total body area and exposed areas with intermittent topical therapy, does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.