Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's tinea pedis was diagnosed but did not cover at least five percent of the exposed body or five percent of the entire body, thus failing to meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension and pseudofolliculitis barbae disabilities have been granted increased ratings, with the hypertension receiving a 10 percent rating effective December 15, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to obtain and secure substantial gainful employment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, residuals of a right eye injury, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The lumbar spine disorder claim is reopened but denied as there is no medical evidence showing it is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance was denied because the medications used to treat his service-connected ichthyosis vulgaris with superimposed eczema cause irreparable damage to his outer garments. The Board has decided that this decision should be remanded so that a clinical evaluation can determine if the prescribed skin medication causes irreparable damage.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, and a 10 percent rating was assigned. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings and earlier effective dates are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on his keloids and scar from the removal of cysts has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding sleep apnea.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability, bilateral hips disability, and skin disease due to lack of evidence showing an in-service onset or incurrence.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), eczema, and onychomycosis are all found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, gastrointestinal disease, skin disorder, heart condition secondary to PTSD, peripheral vestibular disorder, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus. The Veteran's left ear frostbite is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a VA clothing allowance was denied as there is no evidence that his prescribed creams and ointments cause irreparable damage to his outergarments or that his CPAP machine tends to wear or tear his clothing.

The Veteran's lichen simplex chronicus and seborrheic dermatitis have been rated as 30 percent for the period from April 24, 1997 through August 29, 2002. Effective August 30, 2002, a rating of 30 percent has been assigned.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 10% rating for discoid eczema of the left leg, finding that it is not factually ascertainable that there was an increase in disability within one year preceding the June 10, 2008 claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, including corns of the little toes, bone spur, nail fungal infection, and tinea pedis, is being remanded due to incomplete records from VA Connecticut Healthcare System. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining any missing records.

The Veteran's lumbar disorder, skin disease, diabetes mellitus, and disorder manifested by memory loss are not service-connected.,Service connection for the Veteran's allergic rhinitis was granted effective May 10, 2004.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or nexus to service. The Board also found that the current diagnoses are not due to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness related to service in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for TDIU, but his employment history and current job do not show he is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of current diagnoses or a link between any claimed conditions and active military service.,No new effective date has been granted as no earlier effective date claim was filed.