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

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the representation withdrawing the appeal before a decision was made.

The Veteran's tinea pedis was found to be incurred in service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and bilateral plantar fasciitis are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected tinea pedis right foot, with onychomycosis of the toenails, both feet does not cover at least 5 percent of the entire body or exposed areas affected. The Board finds that a compensable rating is denied.

The Veteran's atopic eczema caused frequent flare-ups, requiring daily use of topical corticosteroids and oral doxycycline. The Board found that the condition most closely approximated a rating of 60 percent for constant or near-constant systemic therapy.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected tinea pedis and tinea versicolor are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations, and the need for an examination during a period of flare-up.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected varicose veins with chronic phlebitis and stasis dermatitis of his bilateral lower extremities did not contribute substantially or materially to his death, as they were not a principal cause. The Board also noted that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his fatal diseases.

The Board has granted service connection for psoriasis, finding that the Veteran's statements and medical opinions support a causal relationship between his Gulf War service and his diagnosed psoriasis. The appeal for memory loss was withdrawn by the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor covered 20 to 40 percent of his entire body prior to December 12, 2016, and did not require constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs. Therefore, a 30 percent rating was granted.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor affected more than 5 percent but no more than 20 percent of his entire body, warranting a 10% evaluation throughout the appeal period.

The Board found that the Veteran's basal cell carcinoma is not related to his in-service exposure to herbicides and denied service connection for this condition. The Board also found no evidence of a relationship between actinic keratosis or tinea versicolor and in-service exposure to herbicides, thus denying service connection for these conditions as well.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to an increased evaluation for psoriasis and whether new and material evidence has been submitted sufficient to reopen the claims for service connection for PTSD and hepatitis C. The case is dismissed.

The Veteran's eczema disability was found to have manifested during service and continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's chloracne is related to his service, specifically his exposure to herbicide agents during his time in Vietnam. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's skin conditions and service.

The Veteran's skin condition and undiagnosed illness symptoms are granted service connection. The skin condition is dermatitis, while the gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms are considered an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's skin disability, which includes tinea pedis, tinea corporis, and onychomycosis, has been evaluated at a 10 percent rating. The Board found that the current level of impairment does not warrant an increase to a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis has affected less than five percent of her entire body and greater than five percent, but less than twenty percent, of exposed areas. The Board finds that the use of topical corticosteroids did not constitute systemic therapy as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's tinea pedis does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation as it does not involve affected areas of at least 5 percent the entire body or exposed areas, required systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs, deep scarring of at least 39 square centimeters, superficial scarring of at least 929 square centimeters, pain, or loss of skin covering.