Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2018

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected left wrist status post fracture, lumbar spondylosis, levoscoliosis and discogenic disease, right knee lateral tibial plateau, and tinea versicolor.

The Board denied service connection for acne due to burn pit exposure, finding no direct evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left knee disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The right knee and lumbar strain claims are remanded as additional medical opinions are needed to determine if there is clear and unmistakable evidence of aggravation or etiology.

The Board has granted the claim for service connection of acne and denied a rating for it.

The Board has granted the claim for service connection of Acne and assigned a rating of 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left eye disability, finding that the currently diagnosed disabilities were not incurred in service and are not otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include back condition, bilateral hearing loss, skin condition (presumed due to Agent Orange exposure), and psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right ankle disability and pseudofolliculitis barbae, and adjudicating whether new and material evidence has been submitted sufficient to prevent finality from attaching to the March 2015 rating decision severing service connection for a right ankle disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including examinations to clarify diagnoses and determine etiology. The issues of service connection are being remanded.

The Veteran's degenerative changes of the left knee are granted a rating of 20 percent, but no higher. Service connection for atopic dermatitis is also granted.

The Board denied service connection for acne due to burn pit exposure, finding no direct evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for reopening the claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), as well as for higher ratings for a painful right shoulder scar and a right shoulder disability. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance in 2013 was denied because the prescribed medication (Clobetasol ointment) did not cause damage to his clothing, and there is no provision for damage resulting from the disability itself.

The Veteran was granted service connection for colonic diverticulosis, but denied for skin cancer of the nose and skin rashes.,Service connection for colonic diverticulosis is established as it occurred during active duty. The Veteran's basal cell carcinoma of the nose is not related to his military service due to lack of in-service diagnosis or continuity of symptomatology.,The Veteran was denied service connection for skin cancer of the back and skin rashes (tinea versicolor and dermatitis of the chest). His skin rash claim as it relates to the groin area had already been addressed. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for psoriasis and a skin disorder other than psoriasis, including eczema or an undiagnosed illness. The evidence did not show a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, including as due to herbicide exposure, finding insufficient evidence to support a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for his immersion foot disabilities of the right and left feet have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pleural plaque disease was denied as the evidence did not show a link to his military service.,The effective date of the 10 percent rating for tinea pedis with onychomycosis of all toes is denied because no new and material evidence was received within one year of the August 2008 rating decision, and the Veteran did not file an appeal in time.,The claim for a higher rating for tinea pedis with onychomycosis of all toes was also denied as there was no factual basis to support such a rating increase.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused wear and tear on his clothing, specifically the manual wheelchair, shoe orthotics, and topical cream for eczema. The Board has granted annual clothing allowances for 2013 due to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, chloracne (lower extremity), and trench foot as they were not incurred or aggravated by military service.