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

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, as well as psoriasis. The Veteran's claims were not adjudicated on the basis of a specific exposure basis or presumption.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to his request for a videoconference hearing before the Board. No final outcome on service connection or disability evaluation is determined.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals, including those for increased ratings and service connection claims.

The Veteran's service-connected nummular dermatitis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as the condition does not affect more than 20 to 40 percent of the entire body or exposed areas.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records and for further development. The Veteran's claims of service connection for chloracne, PTSD, and head injury will be reconsidered.

The Board found that the Veteran's skin conditions, including dyshydrotic dermatitis of the hands and feet and jungle rot of the feet, were not incurred during or related to his active duty service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an eye disorder (myopia) is granted as it was aggravated by a superimposed injury during service.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis disability is denied as there is no evidence of nasal obstruction or polyps.

The Board denied an effective date prior to April 19, 2011 for the award of service connection for generalized anxiety disorder. The claim for tinea cruris was previously denied in a June 1995 rating decision and reopened based on new evidence submitted since then.

The Veteran's PTSD has not met or approached the criteria for a disability rating higher than 70 percent. The RO denied his claim for a higher rating, finding that his PTSD produced severe but not total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claims for right rotator cuff disability, sleep apnea, colon polyps, chloracne (claimed as skin disability), and right shoulder lipoma were denied. The Veteran's claim for insomnia was granted due to its association with service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a skin disorder/chloracne and stomach ulcers.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired flat foot disability of the right foot, varicose veins with thrombosis, and dermatitis and residual scarring of the right lower leg are all related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected facial acne with scars and keloid acne on chest is currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 7828-7800. The condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating as it does not cause visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of two features or paired sets of features (nose, chin, forehead, eyes (including eyelids), ears (auricles), cheeks, lips) or with four or five characteristics of disfigurement.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a skin disorder were denied. The effective dates for the grant of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative joint/disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome and lower extremity radiculopathy, TDIU, and DEA benefits are set at May 21, 2001, August 24, 2003, respectively.

The Veteran's pre-existing cystic acne was aggravated by his service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative changes is still under consideration.

The Veteran's skin disorders are being remanded for additional development to determine their etiology and whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and partial median neuropathy, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board found that he met the schedular criteria for a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his service-connected tinea versicolor with acne and chondromalacia patella of both knees, as well as an earlier effective date for service connection for tinnitus. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or hearing loss, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his representative.

The Board has found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed eczematous dermatitis had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection.