Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Veteran's acne keloidalis of the head, trunk, and groin is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board found that he does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for chloracne, to include as secondary to Agent Orange exposure due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's left knee arthrotomy has not manifested by locking, ankylosis, recurrent subluxation, lateral instability, impairment of the tibia and fibula or genu recurvatum; flexion of the left knee has been limited to 90 degrees and extension has always been to zero degrees.,The Veteran's right knee meniscectomy has not manifested by locking, ankylosis, recurrent subluxation, lateral instability, impairment of the tibia and fibula or genu recurvatum; flexion of the right knee has been limited to 50 degrees and extension has always been to zero degrees.,The Veteran's left ankle disability has not manifested by ankylosis, malunion of the os calcis or astragulus, astragalectomy or marked limitation of motion.,The Veteran's left thumb disability has never manifested by ankylosis or inability to oppose the thumb.,The Veteran's tinea versicolor does not affect the head, face or neck or involve scarring; it has manifested by hyperpigmented lesions that do not affect at least 20 percent of the entire body or exposed areas, and has never required systemic therapy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and determining whether new evidence has been received to reopen previously denied claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his service-connected back and skin disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, migraine headaches, and pseudofolliculitis barbae (razor bumps) have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran experienced a continuity of symptoms since service and provided sufficient evidence to support these findings.

The Veteran's psoriasis with seborrhea is rated at 30 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating of 60 percent based on generalized skin involvement without systemic manifestations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and retaining employment consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests; he does not have an employment handicap.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the majority of issues. The claim for an increased rating for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. The Veteran is also not entitled to special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO in Atlanta, Georgia, for an appropriate hearing and further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including prostatitis, ulcers, stomatitis, eye infections, mouth disorder/laryngitis, body odor, diverticulosis, sinusitis, and chloracne, all of which are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during his Vietnam-era service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, blepharitis and pinguecula of both eyes, headaches, and a skin disorder of the feet were denied as there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Veteran's skin disorder was granted a 60% rating effective January 11, 2005. The Board vacated the previous decision denying higher initial ratings for the eczematous dermatitis prior to September 20, 2004 and from September 20, 2004 until January 10, 2005.

The Veteran's skin disability, characterized by tinea manum (left hand), tinea pedis, tinea unguium and tinea cruris, is not productive of ulceration, extensive exfoliation, systemic or nervous manifestations, exceptional repugnancy, coverage of more than 40 percent of the entire body or more than 40 percent of the exposed area affected, or constant or near-constant use of systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs during the past 12-month period. Therefore, a disability rating in excess of 30 percent is not warranted. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is productive of puretone threshold averages no higher than 45 with speech recognition ability of 88 percent bilaterally and does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a higher disability rating for service-connected neurodermatitis, bilateral legs was dismissed because he did not file a timely substantive appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's skin disorder is related to service.

The VA determined that the appellant's skin disorder, including pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected right shoulder disability and dermatitis are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for leukemia was denied as there is no medical evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's active duty service and his current diagnosis. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for psoriasis is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection for heart disorder, bunions of the right foot, and skin disorder (including acne) are pending.