Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's skin disorder, including tinea versicolor and lichen simplex chronicus, had its onset during service and continues to this day. The Board finds in favor of the Veteran, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain since July 11, 2011. The Veteran was previously rated at 10 percent prior to this date and is now entitled to an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to ensure that all relevant evidence has been considered and the current severity of his bilateral shoulder disabilities, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and keloids have been assessed. The right eye pterygium claim will also be addressed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's muscle and joint pain is related to service or service-connected disability, and whether his psoriasis is otherwise etiologically related to his service in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's service-connected tinea cruris and tinea pedis with onychomycosis is rated at a 30 percent disability rating since April 9, 2012. The condition has been treated with topical medications for more than six weeks but not constantly during the past year.

The Board found that the Veteran's back, left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities do not warrant higher initial ratings. The claims for increased ratings of dyssomnia, onychomycosis of the feet, and acne were denied as a matter of law.

The Veteran's lichen simplex chronicus has not affected more than 20% of his body or exposed skin, and no systemic therapy or intensive light therapy was required. Therefore, the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction and granted service connection for chloracne. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is presumed to be related to his in-service herbicide exposure, while his chloracne is presumed to have become manifest within a year of his last exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's service-connected tinea cruris, neurodermatitis, and lichen simplex chronicus has been manifested by hyperpigmented areas, burning, and itchiness affecting at least 5 but no more than 20 percent of the exposed areas. The VA examiner noted that constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs were not required.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 60 percent rating for tinea versicolor, finding that a reduction from 60 to 30 percent was not proper due to lack of evidence showing improvement in the disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) had its onset during service and granted service connection for this condition.

Service connection has been granted for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.,The claim of service connection for leukemia remains pending as the applicable regulations have not yet been established.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, reschedule examinations, and request the submission of a VA Form 21-8940.,The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, reschedule examinations, and request the submission of a VA Form 21-8940.,The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, reschedule examinations, and request the submission of a VA Form 21-8940.,The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, reschedule examinations, and request the submission of a VA Form 21-8940.,The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, reschedule examinations, and request the submission of a VA Form 21-8940.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, reschedule examinations, and request the submission of a VA Form 21-8940.,The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, reschedule examinations, and request the submission of a VA Form 21-8940.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, reschedule examinations, and request the submission of a VA Form 21-8940.,The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, reschedule examinations, and request the submission of a VA Form 21-8940.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, reschedule examinations, and request the submission of a VA Form 21-8940.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current skin disability and therefore, service connection for a skin disability cannot be granted. The issue of residuals from heat exposure was also denied as there is no evidence of any residual disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, and for a supplemental comment from the May 2015 VA examiner regarding the severity of his service-connected dyshidrotic eczema.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, a skin disorder (undiagnosed), chronic fatigue syndrome (undiagnosed), and joint pain (undiagnosed) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his period of active duty.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is found to have had its onset during service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran is granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae and a non-compensable rating for migraine headaches. The Veteran's right index finger disability with foreign body warrants a compensable rating of 30 percent, effective June 23, 2014. Service connection for lumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 is granted.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for chloracne and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a diagnosis of chloracne and considering the Veteran's credible lay statements regarding his symptoms.

The Board has granted a rating of 60 percent for the Veteran's eczema with residual post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation of the trunk and bilateral upper and lower extremities, finding that his condition required constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs during the past 12-month period.