Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Veteran's skin disease, including onychomycosis of the toenails and tinea pedis with ear infections, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it affects less than 20% of his body or exposed areas.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded to allow for additional examinations, obtainment of SSA records, and compliance with VCAA notice requirements.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including laser burns to the eyes, skin disability, porphyria cutanea tarda, and soft tissue carcinoma. The decision is final as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen any of these claims.

The Veteran's atopic dermatitis was denied an increased rating as there is insufficient evidence to determine the severity of his condition and he failed to cooperate with VA examinations.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran not filing a timely substantive appeal regarding his service-connected skin condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a podiatrist examination, and readjudicating the issues of service connection for plantar fasciitis with calcaneal spur and heel spur and entitlement to an evaluation for tinea pedis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a right knee disability and an initial compensable evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected eczema with dermatophytosis and onychomycosis affects less than 5 percent of the entire body or exposed areas, requires no more than topical therapy, and does not manifest any characteristics of disfigurement or scarring. Therefore, he is not entitled to a compensable rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety), finding no evidence of these conditions in service or linking them to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to procedural defects in the notification provided by VA.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for service-connected tinea pedis, entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and tension headaches were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection for folliculitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chloracne, hepatitis C, and PTSD on the merits. The evidence did not establish that the Veteran engaged in combat with the enemy or provided credible supporting evidence of his claimed stressors.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected inflammatory papulocystic acne with scarring is remanded due to inadequate examination and missing medical records.

The Veteran's dyshidrosis dermatitis is intermittently treated with systemic corticosteroids for a total duration of less than six weeks during a 12-month period, and thus does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of a 10 percent schedular rating.

The Veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae requires the use of a prescribed medication that causes irreparable damage to outer garments, warranting an annual clothing allowance for 2006.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for chloracne and skin disorder prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have established service connection for any of his claimed disabilities, including bilateral shoulder, knee, right ankle, foot, and eye disabilities. The only condition found to be related to service is a fungal infection of the nails.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinea cruris and left knee disability are being remanded to allow for additional examinations and consideration of the evidence.

The Veteran's pruritis, tinea cruris was found to meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7817 due to systemic therapy with corticosteroids lasting six weeks or more.

The Veteran's skin rash (folliculitis) and right eye injury are both found to be service-connected. The pes anserine bursitis of the right knee is evaluated as 0 percent disabling.