Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's right little finger disability is granted service connection, as it was incurred in service.,For his acne of the chest, a non-compensable evaluation remains appropriate given its superficial nature and treatment with topical medications.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure all relevant evidence is considered before deciding the Veteran's claims. This includes obtaining private treatment records from specific providers and considering whether staged ratings are appropriate.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of regulation of activities required to treat his condition.,For eczema, tinea pedis and onychomycosis, a separate rating of 10 percent was granted effective October 20, 2016. The Veteran's conditions do not meet or approximate criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for a skin rash disability and finds that it is related to his active duty service. The Veteran now has service connection for dermatitis of the face, ear, chest, back, and right leg.

The Board found CUE in the August 2007 decision and granted an effective date of January 25, 1958 for the grant of service connection for tinea versicolor. This was a full grant of the benefit sought by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate reasons or bases provided in the previous decision and because of new evidence. The case is now being sent back for further development.

The Board found clear and unmistakable error in the August 2007 decision denying an earlier effective date for tinea versicolor, and granted an effective date of January 25, 1958.

The Veteran's cystic acne is currently rated at 60 percent, effective April 28, 2017. The claim for a higher rating prior to that date was denied.,The Veteran also seeks TDIU based on his service-connected cystic acne and depression. This claim was denied as the combined disability evaluation does not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board finds that the Veteran's skin disabilities, including atopic dermatitis/eczema and colloid milium, were not incurred or aggravated in service, to include as due to herbicide exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's skin condition, including chloracne and actinic keratosis, was not found to warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for acne, finding that his pre-existing acne did not worsen beyond its natural progression during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The appeals are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chloracne was previously denied in September 2009 due to the lack of evidence showing a current disability, diagnosis, or scarring consistent with chloracne. The Veteran did not submit new and material evidence within one year.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding the nature of his spine disability, skin conditions, and peripheral neuropathy. The examiner is asked to determine if any current disabilities are related to active service or aggravated by a congenital defect.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for tinea pedis and tinea cruris, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not warrant a compensable rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) because it was not factually ascertainable that the Veteran's service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 30, 2008.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective October 4, 2010. Prior to this date, her combined disability rating was only 50 percent and did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the earliest date of entitlement was January 31, 2011.,VA regulations do not allow for an earlier effective date for hepatitis B as it did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent evaluation prior to January 31, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for nummular eczema and papular urticaria, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active duty service.,Regarding the Veteran's claims for headaches and ED, no decision was made due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea unguium (bilateral foot fungus) and bilateral leg cramps was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection.,Service connection could not be established as the Veteran had no documented history or diagnosis of these conditions prior to his military service.