Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for eczema, foot deformities, and edema of the right ankle. Service connection for retinopathy is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's skin disorder, including urticaria and perivascular dermatitis consistent with erythema annulare centrifugum, did not result from his service in Iraq. The evidence showed no connection between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any psychiatric disability, diabetic retinopathy (blurred vision), chloracne and porphyria cutanea, or peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities for purposes of establishing service connection.,Regarding erectile dysfunction, the evidence is insufficient to establish its etiology.

The Board finds that the evidence of record is sufficient to warrant an increased rating of 50 percent for the service-connected depression. However, in light of recent evidence submitted by the veteran, the issue of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 50 percent must be REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC), in Washington, DC.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected chloracne warrants an initial 10 percent disability evaluation, effective from August 15, 2005.

The veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities and other conditions were denied.,Service connection was not established for fibromyalgia, residuals of a back injury, diabetes mellitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sleep apnea, chronic pain, atypical chest pain, psoriasis, arthritis of multiple joints, or cervical spine disability.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and denied service connection for seborrheic dermatitis.

The VA denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for tinea versicolor as there was no evidence that the condition covered twenty to forty percent of the body or required systemic therapy.

The Board has determined that the veteran's skin rash, now diagnosed as eczematous dermatitis, began during his service in Saudi Arabia and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for service connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and granted service connection for PTSD, but denied his secondary service connection claims for hypertension, sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and a skin condition. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection, non-service connected pension benefits, and special monthly pension by reason of being in need of the aid and attendance of another person or on account of being housebound. The veteran does not have a single permanent disability rated as 100 percent disabling, nor do his disabilities render him incapable of following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish service connection for chloracne or headaches, as claimed by the veteran. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected seborrheic dermatitis with psoriatic lesions, finding that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of his condition.

The Board granted an effective date of April 22, 1998 for the assignment of a 50 percent rating for PFB with acne vulgaris and seborrheic dermatitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae, finding that the disability warranted only a 0 percent evaluation.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examination of his service-connected back strain, left knee arthralgia, and pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected MRSA infection of the right wrist with dermatitis and scarring is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding his employment status and medical records.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bronchial asthma was denied, and his claim for a compensable rating for tinea cruris was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for tinea cruris.

The veteran's service-connected PFB is found to have begun in service and continues to the present. His bilateral hearing loss, however, does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.