Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, both initially manifest during periods of active duty training (ADT).

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for chloracne of the face and neck effective September 25, 2001. The earlier effective date of February 21, 2001 was also granted.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current skin condition or low back disability attributable to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD with MDD, left shoulder condition, right and left knee conditions, pseudofolliculitis barbae, tinnitus, and right knee condition, have resulted in a combined rating of 90 percent. The Veteran is therefore eligible for TDIU.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected acne vulgaris was denied as the evidence did not show deep and extensive involvement affecting more than 40% of the face and neck.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bladder cancer has been reopened and is now granted. The evidence received since the final denial supports a finding that bladder cancer may be related to prostate cancer, which is considered service-connected.,Service connection for chloracne was not established as new and material evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected dermatitis, finding that the Veteran's skin disorder covered less than 20 percent of his entire body or at least 5 percent but less than 20 percent of exposed areas, and did not require intermittent systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs.

The Veteran's skin, cardiovascular, eye, and circulatory conditions were not shown to be related to service or any incident therein. The Board found no evidence of a current disability for the purposes of establishing service connection.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed left ankle disability, bilateral tinea pedis, or a disability manifested by body temperature irregularity.,Therefore, the claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's migraine headaches and dyshidrotic eczema are related to service, thus granting service connection for these conditions. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral foot problems, hypertension, and a gastrointestinal condition are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD with mild depression. The claim for hypertension was reopened, but not granted. The claim for dermatitis/seborrheic dermatitis remains pending.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinea versicolor, cold injury residuals of the hands, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, anosmia, back disability, liver disability, chronic fatigue syndrome (as due to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability), and diabetes mellitus, Type II were granted. The issues related to these conditions are now resolved.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to clarify the current severity and manifestations of the appellant's service-connected skin condition, tinea cruris, tinea pedis with onychomycosis. The issues of service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea remain pending.

The Board found no CUE in the May 2003 rating decision that did not award a separate evaluation for nodulocystic and inflammatory papular acne with residual scarring of the torso, but assigned a 30 percent rating. The decision was consistent with the evidence then of record.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to support a finding of service connection for psoriasis, either as an undiagnosed illness related to Southwest Asia service or secondary to other service-connected conditions. The Veteran's current psoriasis was not shown to have had its onset during active duty and the VA examiner opined it is less likely than not caused by his service-connected adjustment disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his current hearing loss, skin (PFB), PTSD, left patellar tendon tendinosis, lumbar strain with mild degenerative joint disease, and left little finger boutonniere deformity and left index finger central slip injury to extensor mechanism.

The Veteran's skin disability, allergic contact dermatitis, is rated at a 10 percent level due to intermittent systemic therapy with prednisone.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have soft tissue sarcoma and his skin disorders did not manifest during active service or are causally related to his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his VA treatment records and readjudication.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for atopic dermatitis, sleep apnea, hyperlipidemia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and anxiety disorder), chronic sleep impairment, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral knee disability, diabetes mellitus type II, and nephropathy with hypertension. The Board found that the evidence did not support a relationship between these conditions and service or any presumptive exposure to Agent Orange.