Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected peptic ulcer disease and macules of the face with macular depigmentation of the back, chest, and shoulders (residuals of tinea versicolor), finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The veteran's initial evaluations for tinea pedis with fungus of the toenails and right knee disability were denied as they did not reflect the extent of his disabilities.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, tinea of the feet and hands, and bilateral hearing loss with tinnitus were denied as they are not well-grounded. The claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and dermatitis, both claimed as residuals of Agent Orange exposure. The evidence did not show current disabilities or establish a nexus between any diagnosed conditions and service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a social and industrial survey and a VA dermatology examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and seborrheic dermatitis, dermatitis of the right nasolabial fold, and alopecia areata (claimed as a skin disorder) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for chronic infectious folliculitis and denied any increase in the evaluation for keloid scar, neck.

The VA has granted service connection for dyshydrotic eczema of the left hand and assigned a 10 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the grant of service connection.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for impetigo of the chest in August 1962, and found no new and material evidence to warrant reopening the claim. The veteran's PTSD was rated at 10% initially.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic skin disorder, manifested by stasis dermatitis of the lower extremities, secondary to the service-connected residuals of a right tibia fracture with traumatic arthritis. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for residuals of a right tibia fracture with traumatic arthritis is also granted.

The Board found the claim for direct service connection well-grounded, but denied the secondary service connection claim as there was no medical evidence showing a nexus between the veteran's current skin disorder and her asthma medication.

The Board found that the appellant's hypertensive heart disease has materially improved under ordinary conditions of life and work, warranting a reduction from a 40 percent rating to a 30 percent rating effective November 1, 1991. The eczematoid dermatitis issue remains unresolved.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a skin condition is well-grounded. The RO will conduct further examination and review the expanded record to determine whether service connection should be granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection to arthritis, secondary to medications taken for a service-connected duodenal ulcer disability; whether new and material evidence has been submitted sufficient to reopen a claim for a skin disorder; and service connection for a skin disorder. The decision on the lipoma claim is pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The veteran's skin disorder, diagnosed as psoriasis, is related to his service-connected schizophrenia. The Board finds the claim plausible and thus well-grounded.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for special monthly pension benefits due to her income exceeding the statutory limit, and also denied her claim based on unemployability due to her disabilities. The case is remanded for a statement of the case regarding these issues.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and tinea pedis are not well grounded, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's asthma, thoracic spine injury, folliculitis of scalp and pityriasis rosea of back are all rated at the minimum level. The claim for PTSD is not well-grounded, and service connection for chronic gum disease and plantar fasciitis of left foot (claimed as a left foot disorder) is also not well-grounded.

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for seborrheic dermatitis of the face and scalp, finding that the condition is appropriately rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a mouth condition. The claims for sebaceous cysts with acne rosacea, miliaria rubra, tinea corporis, prurigo nodularis, and folliculitis were well grounded. The claim for Reiter's syndrome/polyarthralgia was also well grounded. However, the claims for bilateral leg pains due to fractures and back pain other than Reiter's syndrome/polyarthralgia were not well grounded.