Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for left elbow tendonitis, hand dermatitis, and headaches. The RO assigned noncompensable ratings initially but later increased them to 10% and 30%, respectively.

The Board finds in favor of the veteran on all issues regarding service connection for various conditions, granting them based on direct service connection due to evidence showing a pre-existing condition during active duty or an increase in severity during service.

The veteran's skin condition is rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of his original claim. The issue regarding an earlier effective date for the clothing allowance was not addressed as it has been granted in full.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is well grounded. The VA has provided a medical opinion establishing the plausibility of a nexus between his diagnosed hearing loss and his alleged exposure to acoustic trauma in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, allergic dermatitis, or endometriosis.

The Board has granted a 10% evaluation for the veteran's tinea corporis and tinea pedis, finding that these conditions have manifested by intermittent flare-ups of flaky, itchy rash on his face, neck, right underarm, and groin. The preponderance of evidence supports this rating.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's skin condition (tinea versicolor) and denied service connection for hypertension.

The Board found no current residuals of the veteran's cold injury to his feet in service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted an increased rating to 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected alopecia areata and folliculitis, effective from May 1, 1997.

The Board has granted service connection for psoriasis as secondary to the veteran's PTSD, and has also granted a 10 percent rating for his PTSD. The effective date is not specified.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current conditions to his military service, including exposure to Agent Orange. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The RO has denied increased evaluations for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and the denial of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development including VA examinations to assess his service-connected conditions.

The veteran's chloracne is rated at 10 percent, and service connection for PTSD has been granted. The effective date of the rating decision is not specified.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, and hemorrhoids. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae was not granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review of the merits of the veteran's claim for an increased rating for folliculitis of the scalp with cervical lymphadenopathy, including a request for additional medical evidence and consideration of whether other areas are affected by the disability.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the service-connected chronic dermatitis of the hands. The issue of entitlement to a 10 percent evaluation based on noncompensable service-connected disabilities, pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a compensable rating.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for nonservice-connected pension purposes, including extraschedular entitlement under 38 C.F.R. § 3.321(b)(2), was denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated based on the current evidence of record. The evaluations are consistent with the severity and nature of his disabilities.