Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for folliculitis decalvans with scarring alopecia and sleep apnea, finding no evidence of a nexus to his active service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder osteoarthritis and migraine headaches have been granted higher initial ratings, while the tinea pedis with onychomycosis remains at a non-compensable rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated as 70 percent disabling, effective October 18, 2010. Service connection for a back disability and hypertension have not been established.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy and dermatitis, are so severe that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a skin disorder, other than residuals of cellulitis and epidermophytosis of bilateral feet, that is caused by or related to active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current skin disorders, including tinea pedis and chloracne, are not related to his service. The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability resulting from in-service exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal with respect to the issue of entitlement to service connection for chloracne. The case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinea versicolor covers between 20 to 40 percent of his total body area, warranting a 30% evaluation. The condition does not require systemic therapy with immunosuppressive drugs.

The Veteran's skin condition, tinea pedis (a fungal infection of the feet), and lumbar spine disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The left eye corneal scar is related to service.

The Veteran's skin disorder has been granted a 30 percent rating, but his hypertension claim remains denied.

The Veteran's Pseudofolliculitis Barbae resulted in a disfigurement of the head, face, or neck but not with either gross distortion or asymmetry of three or more features or paired sets of features, or with six or more characteristics of disfigurement. The Board found that he is currently rated at 50% for this condition.

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral tinea pedis, finding that the condition did not meet the criteria for any of the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae affects less than 40 percent of his entire body and less than 40 percent of exposed areas, and does not require constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs. Therefore, the claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction and diabetic retinopathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) as there is no objective evidence of PFB or any sequelae such as post-inflammatory hypopigmentation to the anterior neck or chin areas consistent with PFB. The Veteran's symptoms are attributable to nonservice-connected prurigo nodularis and eczema.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for acne keloidalis with bumps and head scar was granted, with a 30 percent rating effective September 21, 2011. The condition had previously been rated at 60 percent prior to that date.

The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis is rated at a 10 percent disability rating, the highest available under DC 7806.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions and reviewing new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection of a skin disorder, increased evaluation for PTSD and right thumb laceration with tendon and nerve damage, and increase in evaluation for a right thumb scar. The Veteran's claim for an increase in evaluation for degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbosacral spine remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected pustular dermatitis was granted a 60% rating effective November 24, 2015. He also received a TDIU and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate as of that date.,PTSD is considered in determining unemployability but does not contribute to the TDIU or housebound rate.